Video: Mayor and Council debate Uber
Should ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft be regulated the same as taxi- and limousine services?
The state Legislature has been grappling with that one, and now, so is the Morristown council.
“It’s unfair, and we think you should do something about that,” Jimmy Jones, owner of the local J & J Taxi, Livery & Limousine Service, told the town council on Tuesday.
Jones said Uber — a business that uses a smartphone app to connect customers with drivers who use their personal vehicles — does not have to contend with the same insurance and permit requirements that he does.
He pays $6,500 in insurance premiums for each of his 13 vehicles, which must be marked, and must be licensed for operation in every town where he picks up and deposits riders, he said. His drivers must undergo training, background checks, and fingerprinting, too.
Jones said his fares are set by the council — he cannot charge more than $8 for a ride within Morristown — while Uber has no such restrictions.
“They’re undercutting me,” he said of the competitors.
The appeal of Uber is the ease of use, not necessarily the lower cost. As a Morristown resident I have used both private taxi services and Uber to get around town. When attempting to use a private taxi service I was met with unpleasant customer service and the inability to be picked up at the requested time as well as lengthy wait times for return trips. Uber, while subject to surge pricing, allows me to know exactly what is going on with my car. Drivers have called to let me know if they’re delayed/in route and to ensure proper pick up location, which I have not encountered with local taxi providers.
If local taxi providers want to actually compete with Uber they need to up improve their customer service and reliability. Until then, Uber is my choice, even if it is more costly.
Uber’s service, in my experience, is outstanding and much better than what most taxi service companies provide. Uber is benefiting from the elements of capitalism which, I thought, Morristown is promoting.
Please support Uber and all businesses that use a similar operating model.
Maybe the taxi companies should be trying to improve instead of just burden Uber with more regulations. I’ve had horrible experiences with the taxi companies in Morristown (being told pickup in 15 minutes repeatedly and not having anyone come for 2 hours).
Why don’t the taxi companies have an app for example? Even if they make uber cost more than a taxi due to the regulations, I’d still use them over the taxi companies.
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