someguy3 ,

The rideshare drivers told FOX 5 Atlanta they’re fed up with unfair wages from the companies they work for.

aard ,
@aard@kyu.de avatar

…which everybody with half a brain knew already over a decade ago when that stuff started.

I do understand that you guys have shittier taxi service over there than we generally do have in Europe, and it was tempting to go for something new - but there’s a service like this has fixed costs, including car maintenance, and giving a higher cut to the app company than you was doing during taxi times where you was hardly getting by doesn’t really work, once the venture capital dries up, and they try to make a profit.

Since everybody was running after uber like sheep you my end up with the actually sustainable transport destroyed - fortunately regulation saved us from the worst over here, though uber did have some negative impact.

menemen ,
@menemen@lemmy.world avatar

On the positive side Uber finally got some digitalization into the process here in Europe (what also helps preventing being screwed over by the driver). But yeah, screwing over the drivers is bad.

Chozo ,

Therein lies the problem. They're self-employed. Unless Atlanta is specifically different, rideshare drivers are almost always considered independent contractors, so they don't actually work for Uber/Lyft/whoever. It's hard to make demands for better pay when your boss is you.

I imagine this is an intentional design choice by gig employers, as well.

Viking_Hippie ,

They’re self-employed

Officially but not actually. Falsely classifying employees as independent contractors is a common trick corporations use to be able to treat them like shit.

Perfide ,

Exactly. If they actually were independent contractors, they could charge whatever price they want for a ride. But they can’t, Uber decides how much a ride costs and how much the driver gets of that cost. Independent my ass.

Burninator05 ,

I agree that companies sometimes misclassify employees but I’m not sure this is the case here. The drivers choose when and where to work and provide their own resources to complete the jobs they choose to accept.

Viking_Hippie ,

The drivers choose when and where to work

Within parameters set by the company with strict penalties if you don’t obey them. So no, they don’t really choose.

provide their own resources

Like with school teachers, who are also employees, that’s exploitation, not independence.

complete the jobs they choose to accept.

Again, while fulfilling mandatory quotas, meaning that there’s a high risk of having to accept fares they would prefer not to, as per the rules of their EMPLOYER Uber/Lyft.

Pyr_Pressure ,

Technically though if you are your boss and an independent contractor you should easily be able to set your own wage.

You don’t see plumbers and electricians being told they have to work for a certain wage by the building owner. They set their wage and if it’s too high the owner tries to find a cheaper one.

These drivers aren’t actually contractors though, they are employees being screwed over by being falsely classified a contractors. If they all collectively decide to charge $25 / hour, than as independent contractors they should be allowed to and Lyft wouldn’t have any other options other than to try and find drivers who charge less.

batmaniam ,

I mean they could, if they had their own app. It’s like how something like Angie’s list has its own rules to. It’s a shit setup but it’s not wrong.

Im suprised there isn’t something like you see with all those booking apps. Like if run, say, a barber shop, apps that’ll handle booking and payment are a dime a dozen (and obviously you set your own prices). The app gets a cut but it’s priced for what it is: software providing a value, not like Uber/Lyft where the cut is “fuck you what are you going to do about it”.

partial_accumen ,

So people needing a rideshare at the Airport should jump on the MARTA (light rail) at the airport and take it one stop away to get their Lyft/Uber?

cmbabul ,

You ain’t wrong, it’s not hard and I’ve done it many times, but as a native to Atlanta I do have to call out that most folks are averse to MARTA because as a general rule it sucks.

FlashMobOfOne ,
@FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world avatar

Also this is the US and most people aren’t savvy enough to figure out public transportation unless they’re in NYC.

Zahille7 ,

I had an easy time figuring out San Diego’s public transportation system because I’m from there. Also it runs really well.

FlashMobOfOne ,
@FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world avatar

San Diego has a good, simple system for sure.

Nemo ,

You know that Chicago and DC both have robust public transit systems too, right?

partial_accumen , (edited )

I don’t have light rail in my city (one of the top 15 largest US cities). One of my favorite things to do when visiting other cities on vacation is use their public transit. NYC’s MTA is middle to low quality/price compared to other North American cities. I won’t even compare against Europe, because theirs are so much better overall than ours.

For North America, NYC needs to up their game compared to the DC metro, Chicago’s L, or Seattle’s Link. San Diego an Toronto are also both nice, but not nearly as much coverage of the metro areas. Boston also gets high marks even though their system and rolling stock looks absolutely ancient. Philly’s Septa is about on par with NYC’s MTA in my opinion, but the cost of MTA is one of the higher priced services for what you get. Chicago CTA’s $5 full day pass Ventra card is the best value I’ve seen in the country.

Sunforged ,

Seattle has very limited places you can get to on it. SeaTac to downtown is great but neighborhood connections are all via bus. We are working on it and hopefully by the time my kids are adults they can actually get around the city using it.

Solidarity to drivers though, fuck rideshare companies.

partial_accumen , (edited )

Seattle has very limited places you can get to on it. SeaTac to downtown is great but neighborhood connections are all via bus.

You’re burying the lede on one of Seattle’s coolest things about Seattle’s buses and Link trains. Your Trolley busses!

https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/6cf8f054-f439-4193-ab62-15f6234453ce.png

Seattle does something I haven’t really seen elsewhere for their light rail. The trains are powered by overhead electrical catenary wires, and the rails in stations and many tunnels are level to the ground.

https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/96fddd50-9cf6-4473-a8b3-839d1d5ae69e.png

So some of the tunnels under the city are just level paved which means the Trolley buses can use the same tunnels as the Train! It was surreal to be on the bus with the diesel engine running through city streets, then the bus took a ramp down to the “train tracks”, hooked up to the catenary overhead, diesel engine stops and electric motor purrs to life, then you’re driving in the same tunnel under the city that the Link train does at other times.

Seattle also has a completely separate light rail transport in its Monorail!

https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/4eb6fc6c-8ab4-4a64-ae76-d203c2c868be.png

I didn’t even mention the S.L.U.T!

https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/3f1d30c4-9707-4dc1-9937-5ab4c45bf14c.png

Seattle public transport gets high marks from me for usability and value.

FlashMobOfOne ,
@FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world avatar

If you ever come to Kansas City,vour buses and streetcar are fare-free. 🤟

partial_accumen ,

Kansas City MO or KS?

FlashMobOfOne ,
@FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world avatar

This is on the Missouri side. There’s a streetcar that runs the main corridor of the city, and buses that service the area regionally.

FlashMobOfOne ,
@FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world avatar

This is on the Missouri side. There’s a streetcar that runs the main corridor of the city, and buses that service the area regionally.

grue ,

Fun fact: MARTA and the DC metro use the same rolling stock because they were built at about the same time.

captainlezbian ,

DC has the best fucking subway. It goes everywhere you want to go and is convenient as shit about it.

captainlezbian ,

DC has the best fucking subway. It goes everywhere you want to go and is convenient as shit about it.

partial_accumen ,

DC metro stops also hold record for the longest escalator in the Western Hemisphere as well as 6 of the top 10 spots of longest escalator in the USA.

stopthatgirl7 OP ,
@stopthatgirl7@kbin.social avatar

MARTA is so inconvenient. I’m lucky; my family only lives twenty minutes from the airport so I just have to call them when I get in. And even though they’re so close, there’s no public transportation option to even get close to where my family is.

And God help you if you want to take the bus; those MARTA buses come when the mood hits them.

cmbabul ,

Many years ago comedian Lewis Black called MARTA “the subway to nowhere” and I’ve never heard a more apt description

cmbabul ,

Revisiting and I thought I’d expound, having now lived in a city with somewhat reliable busses it’s insane how bad the bus system is in Atlanta

Rinox ,

I’ve used the MARTA once when I had a long layover in Atlanta and decided to visit the city center. It was fine, really (the metro, not the city. The city was dead. Does anyone even live there?)

Neato ,
@Neato@kbin.social avatar

Most travelers won't want to learn a new rail system. They'll probably just get a cab at the stand.

partial_accumen ,

I’ve been ripped off by enough cab drivers across the United States that I only use taxi cabs as a very last resort.

grue ,

MARTA doesn’t have enough rail lines to justify that hesitancy.

Cheskaz ,

I’m from Australia; Everyone I know will default to public transport when travelling. My partner and I normally book our accommodation with public transport in mind.

Using a different public transport system is really not that big a deal…

stopthatgirl7 OP ,
@stopthatgirl7@kbin.social avatar

Ok, MARTA really is kind of shit.

partial_accumen ,

I rank MARTA pretty low compared to other cities. Cleveland’s Rapid (RTA) ranks quite a bit higher than Atlanta’s MARTA to me. However, my city has zero light rail, so I’m still a bit envious of MARTA. As shit as it is, what is more shit is nothing except city busses.

grue ,

The MARTA line at the airport is heavy rail. You’re right not to rank it that high because there are basically only two main heavy rail lines (with a couple of spurs) so there are a lot of places it doesn’t go, but for the places it does go, it gets there just as fast as any other real subway.

bh11235 ,

Why did you say that name?!

guacupado ,

Where is she?!

grue ,

The MARTA line at the airport is full-blown heavy rail, thank you very much!

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