- Esrati - https://esrati.com -

Taxi stupidity in Dayton, Ohio. The Uber war is about to start

Uber logoToday is the last day of free Uber [1] rides in Dayton. Tomorrow, the war will maybe begin. Maybe not.

For those of you who don’t know what Uber is- it’s a ride-sharing/part-time taxi service enabled by the mobile Internet. To be a driver you sign up- they run a background check, check insurance and then you become a driver. For the user- you order a ride- and drivers claim your request. You can split the fare between yourself and a friend easily- Uber handles all the financial transactions, and takes a cut. There is no phone number for Uber, you have to have a smart phone and download the app.

If the Uber car is traveling at a speed greater than 11 m.p.h.,  the price is calculated on the basis of distance. Otherwise, the price is calculated on time. At the end of a ride, the complete fare (which includes gratuity—Uber’s exact wording is “No Need to Tip” and no option to add a tip exists except to offer it by cash) is automatically billed to the customer’s credit card

via Uber (company) – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [2].

Riders and drivers are rated in true social media fashion, as sort of a self regulating system. Although the company promises drivers to make $18 an hour- there are questions whether this is truly an independent contractor situation or an employee/employer relationship- at least that’s one of the ways municipalities are attacking the company.

In almost every city Uber enters that has a standing taxi commission, or some sort of regulation, there has been a war. New York City has been going through this for years now- with the licensed cabbies raising hell about the amateur cab drivers. In a city where a “medallion” has gone north of a million bucks (a medallion is a license to operate a cab in NYC)- the idea that anyone with a car and a smartphone can now be a cab is wreaking havoc on the status quo.

Unbeknownst to most, Dayton has a taxi commission, run by the Police Department. There are rules and regulations concerning the operating of cabs in Dayton- which only pertain to the pick up, not drop off of passengers in the city. There is zero regulation anywhere else in the county. A study by the generally right wing “Buckeye Institute for Public Policy Solutions” said:

A review of taxi regulations in Dayton found that the regulations increase the cost of starting a cab company by at least $67,000. Dayton requires 24-hour, seven-days-a-week service from all cab companies. It also requires a 24-hour, seven-day dispatching office. This effectively prohibits an independent owner-operator from starting a cab business.This may explain why there are 100 cabs licensed in Dayton, but only four taxi companies.

via Taxicab Regulation in Ohio’s Largest Cities – taxistudy1.pdf [3].

A few years ago I started seeing badly lettered mini-vans “Anton’s Transportation” [4] and was wondering what was going on. Turns out that one way you can get around the regulations is to be a “Medical Transportation Company” which bids to transport patients to doctors’ appointments. I’ve also seen others- that say “not for hire” and “designated driver service” – which is an end run around the taxi rules- where renegade cabs can pick up in the city if they are taking donations ($15 minimum suggested).

Anyone who has tried to hail a real cab in this city- especially at 2 a.m. in the Oregon District, knows they are in for a multi-hour wait. In short- cab service in Dayton is almost as big a joke as our parks and recreation department that can’t keep the basketball courts mowed.

Renegade cabbies risk being charged a $450 fine for being caught operating a taxi in the city. And note, the airport is considered city property- where only “approved cabs” can sit in a cab stand waiting for the odd ride. (Our airport also has funky rules about where off airport parking vans can pick up and drop off passengers- even though they pay a hefty 10% levy on all their customers for the right to drive onto airport property).

There is no proof that regulating cab companies improves the marketplace, the safety, or the availability of cabs in Dayton- in fact, the existence of the taxi commission is just another one of the obsolete rules left over from when Dayton was the driving engine of the region. Now, it just makes doing business in Dayton more difficult.

Considering the constant talk of creating jobs- you would think that an on-demand cab service would be a worthy addition to our local economy, but, just wait until Dayton tries to flex its flabby muscles and tickets the first Uber driver and see what starts to happen.

If you enjoyed reading true breaking news, instead of broken news from the major media in Dayton, make sure you subscribe to this site for an email every time I post. If you wish to support this blog and independent journalism in Dayton, consider donating [5]. All of the effort that goes into writing posts and creating videos comes directly out of my pocket, so any amount helps! Please also subscribe to the Youtube channel for notifications of every video we launch – including the livestreams.
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

13 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Dave C.

If David Esrati shows up on a motorcycle saying he is your Uber ride, politely decline.

djw

Having just had another ugly confrontation with an airport cab trying to screw me, uber’s arrival is a godsend. I don’t like regulation-skirting, but the abuses of power and terrible costumer service of the cab industry makes uber the lesser evil.

Mick

THANK god uber is here! They need to expand their coverage area by about one mile to the south to capture Miamisburg-Centerville road, and thus everyone’s favorite late night jewelry store.

SJR

I’m an Uber driver. So far it is very busy on the weekends at night. All of my riders are very intrigued by Uber and LOVE it. We need more drivers though, Demand is going to Skyrocket once word gets out that we are here. Sign up now!

Anthony Smith

I’m the owner of Anton’s Transportation & would like to agree with all the negative comments. I’m willing to explain to anyone why the service is so poor for the infrequent users of any cab service in Dayton and very willing to explain my view of the situation after wortking in this business for over 25 years. I’m also willing to explain to anyone that would like to start their own cab service exactly how to proceed with their dream. I’m available at 937-830-3108 for comments & conversations.I’m not trying to book you for your next ride.I would like to educate the public on how to get a ride whenever they need one. Thanks for your time Anthony Smith

Ice Bandit

…the Old Bandito doesn’t want to put words in Mr Smith’s mouth but what he may be trying to say is this: merely be willing to work 20 hour days including weekends while investing tens of thousands of dollars in rolling stock and subjecting oneself to the burdensome regulation of the city of Dayton while paying usurious insurance rates and balancing the demands of a fickle an unpredictable public then after a dozen years or so you may have a job that is not only low paying but dangerous as well…

Pat Mullane

I would hope MORE info about a new sevice–uber would be out there 2 get a good “feel” for it. Excited 2 use for the first time

Eric

This is classic push back against an entity simply because it is a better idea. Technology brings us new things and new potential. Taxi cabs…. join the video rental stores. They’re still there, fewer, and catering to a narrower market. My daughter loves the fact that she can get a ride through a simple app on her phone. No argument over money. Has it even been discussed that this is a monumental move toward taking untoxicated college kids off the roads? No cash is needed. Push a button on your phone. Why in the world does the city of dayton believe it has a RIGHT to a REGISTRATION fee? Like licensing PAN HANDLERS??? Dayton is dead in my book. KILL PROGRESS. That’s Dayton’s theme.

Anthony Smith

I would like to update everyone on how the changes in cab laws has affected Anton’s
we no longer service the city of Dayton as a result we no longer give service to about 100 people a day going to medical appointments.Jobs & Family Services solved their part of the problem by sending a letter to their clients to make other arrangements. The easy solution for problem is to put “non emergency transportation” in the exculsion section of laws like hotel vans or church buses but the laws have not been reviewed in that area since before the American Disability Act brought “non emergency transportation” into existing.
until the city puts a higher priority on their citizens well being instead of worrying about the impressions they set with tourist & business travelers nothing will change.If city want to solve the Uber problem since none of their vehicles were inspected last week they could establish an app & network like uber’s and put all licensed cab in network making cab companies more efficient & able to compete with uber instead of dragging uber back to the 1950″s as always any conversation on this subject is welcome call me anytime 937 830 3108

Anthony Smith

Another update about Anton’s Transportation. We have renewed our City of Dayton License and once again provide service in the city of Dayton. I have decided that the impact of the city’s ill informed decisions should not affect the people. How a city anywhere can have a “Taxi Commission” that has no cab company owners on that commission or consult with them about changing a business model is just ridiculous. As always if you have questions or comments please call me 937 830 3108 Thanks for your time