> I am sympathetic to this position, but IMO the right way to go about that is to build a great public transportation system (which incidentally would reduce ride share surge pricing through reduced demand).
I agree. Why can't the local government provide a transportation app that includes ride sharing as a component of that transportation system?
> Why can't the local government provide a transportation app that includes ride sharing as a component of that transportation system?
Probably because taxis and pseudo-taxis don't want to be commoditized. They want to steer users towards their platform, not be a part of someone else's platform.
> Why can't the local government provide a transportation app that includes ride sharing as a component of that transportation system?
I am waiting for a single-click multi-modal transportation app. I say “I want to get to the Hamptons” and have a car pick me up, deposit me at Penn Station, notify me before the change and have a car waiting on the other side.
You'll have to wait until either it's required by law, or a single monopolist covers all the transport modes. No business want to interoperate with competitors.
I agree. Why can't the local government provide a transportation app that includes ride sharing as a component of that transportation system?