NYT piece on the "sharing economy"

[PasadenaTrudy]

"Just after 4 a.m. on a recent Friday, while most of the neighbors in her leafy Boston suburb were still asleep, Jennifer Guidry was in the driveway of her rental apartment, her blond hair pulled back in a tidy French braid, vacuuming the inside of her car. The early-bird routine is a strategy that Ms. Guidry, a Navy veteran and former accountant, uses to mitigate the uncertainty of working in what’s known as the sharing economy.

Ms. Guidry, 35, earns money by using her own car to ferry around strangers for Uber, Lyft and Sidecar, ride services that let people summon drivers on demand via apps. She also assembles furniture and tends gardens for clients who find her on TaskRabbit, an online marketplace for chores."

I'm new at posting newslinks, hope it works!

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/17/technology/in-the-sharing-economy-workers-find-both-freedom-and-uncertainty.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&version=HpSum&module=second-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news

[frazzled]

1. And regulations on the sharing economy?

Are we fine with unlicensed chauffeurs and unchecked vehicles on our streets?

I'm not entirely on board with the sharing economy. It sounds are homey and nice in theory, but then we remember why we spent a century or so getting government oversight to protect citizens and workers. Do we want shared economy restaurants that are not inspected?

[Nye Bevan]

2. Every Uber rider gets to rate their experience from one to five stars.

And if the average rating for a driver falls below 4.5 stars he or she is kicked out of Uber.

I am pretty sure that such a system results in higher quality experiences overall than regulatory inspection regimes.

[frazzled]

3. That's not regulation

Are those riders testing the brakes? making sure the driver has an annual vision test?

Yelp style crowd-sourced regulation? Does anyone here believe in government anymore? Jeezus.

[Skittles]

5. apparently people think online ratings are just swell

Last edited Sun Aug 17, 2014, 11:35 PM - Edit history (1)

I do not trust them

[PasadenaTrudy]

6. I think

it is more of a "siphoning economy." I'd also be afraid picking up strangers for rides. Who knows who the next Ted Bundy could be?

[frazzled]

7. How true: it's a two-way street.

But then, even licensed, medallion cabbies probably face that same possible peril.

I'm a bit concerned with things like Air B&B. We've passed laws here in my city expressly for such short-term rental enterprises, making it necessary for people to get licensed annually, carry substantial insurance, and follow strict rules. I live in a condo building. I wouldn't particularly want someone in my building renting out their place every weekend to unknown people and giving them the key to our front door and elevator. And who knows if they might not make lots of noise at 3 am or start a fire or have guns, etc.? On the guests' end, how do they know the premises are moderately sanitary or safe?

See http://www.cityofchicago.org/dam/city/depts/bacp/general/vacationrentalordinance011311.pdf

There's a reason that municipalities wish to regulate the businesses that operate within their regions: for the safety and well-being of the entire community. "Freedom" to charge people for rides or a place to stay also comes with "responsibilities."

[PasadenaTrudy]

8. True true... n/t

[closeupready]

10. Yes, I am opposed to AirBnB. Rapists, burglars, junkies ...

I can think of all kinds of undesirables who are potentially given access to common living areas with unsuspecting neighbors.

[Trillo]

4. Berlin banned Uber to protect licensed taxi drivers

http://fortune.com/2014/08/14/uber-berlin-band/

The Berlin state government has become the second German city to ban ride-sharing startup Uber's app, saying it needed to protect passengers, Uber's drivers–and the city's licensed taxi drivers.

Uber's general manager in Germany, Fabien Nestmann said in a blog post that the company will appeal the ruling, having already managed to overturn a similar ban in Hamburg.

The Berlin Senate said in a statement explaining its decision Wednesday that it was an unacceptable risk to public safety that passengers be transported in unlicensed cabs by unlicensed drivers. But it added that “the basic thought of protecting the taxi business also plays a role.”

[PasadenaTrudy]

9. Interesting

Thanks for the link