Posted on 07/12/2015 12:09:17 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
*If you’ve never heard of ride-sharing, app-based taxi services like Uber and Lyft, you probably don’t get out much.
They are pretty much taking over the world.
And John Zimmer, who co-founded Lyft, even goes as far as saying that in five years, most millennials won’t own a car. They will see no need for it.
“You could actually start seeing the majority of millennials in the next five years or so saying there’s no reason I should get a car,” Zimmer told Mashable recently. “The car used to be the symbol of American freedom. Now it’s like …owning a $9,000 ball and chain, because you have $9,000 in expenses on your car every year.”
Sounds like something someone with a ride-sharing business would say.
But apparently there’s data to support his theory.
An article in Huffington Post states millennials are less likely to get driver’s licenses compared to previous generations; and according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, the number of cars purchased by people aged 18 to 34 fell by almost 30 percent from 2007 to 2011.
Of course this could be for a number of reasons. The economy; parents unable to foot the bill for a monthly car note.
And these days, the Generation Y’ers use skateboards, bikes and public transportation more often as a means of travel. So this could also lend itself to the reasons why they are not purchasing cars.
Yet it is true, as Mashable notes, that this millennial shift has contributed greatly to the success of ride-sharing companies like Lyft and Uber, whose worth is at least $2 billion and $40 billion respectively.
Not to mention the contributions of their parents and grandparents; who rely heavily on the service for their own means of regular transportation.
Yet and still, the jury is still out on whether or not cars will soon be obsolete for the Gen Y set. A survey conducted this year found that 43 percent of millennials are actually likely to purchase a car in the next five years.
“Whatever millennials do right now, it’s highly likely that they’ll drive more as they age into their 30s and 40s,” wrote reporter Emily Badger in an op-ed for The Washington Post last year. “The question is whether they’ll continue to drive less than their parents did at each stage of life — and whether future generations will replicate their patterns.”
No DUI or drug-related driving violations
No hit and run accidents
No fatal accidents
No history of reckless driving
No violent crimes
No sexual offenses
No gun-related violations
No resisting/evading arrest
No driving without insurance or driving with suspended license in the last three years.
Most people would pass the Uber background test.
I don't see that as a problem at all. What it means is that your Uber driver is going to be super-nice to you and you will very likely have a very pleasant experience.
I've taken taxi rides over the years and as often as not I run into a crabby driver in a bad mood. Never happens with Uber. No wonder the taxi drivers are all up in arms. Companies like Uber and Lyft are going to run them right out of business - and deservedly so.
Urban report... This is a bunch of agenda 21 wishful thinking and attempted mind washing.
Nah, wait a few years...
When I lived in LA the CA “Drought Emergency Office” switched overnight to the state “Emergency Flooding Office” at the end of the late 70’s drought...:^)
lol not true. I have a 2006 Jag S Type with 75k on it and besides regular maintenance, it developed an oil leak in the master cylinder? at about 72k and we fixed that.
It actually has been a darn good car!
You can’t legally do it since the transportation of people for money one must have a valid Texas Chauffeur License. Along with that your automotive liability insurance will go straight through the roof.
If you plan to Uber be prepared to go to jail, pay a huge fine and lose everything you had in life like your job, house, automobiles and any money in the bank when you are sued by a rider if you have even the most minor accident. I’m sure their slimy lawyers can figure a way to do it.
$350 in 1984 would be $801.08 today. Still not bad.
http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl?cost1=350.00&year1=1984&year2=2015
I didn’t hear about that. Do you have more info?
All true. It’s a shame. As for driving, in addition to the gas expense, when something goes wrong with one of the cars of today, you have to pay a mechanic to repair it. Young men today really can’t work on their own cars, as they used to, because of the way the cars are built today.
You could be the nicest and most polite person in the world and you can give the best possible service in all of history as well. You could pick them up and give them the most gentle and efficient ride that physics will allow. The sky could be a bright and deep blue hue and the bluebirds could sing. When you pick them up, you put their suitcase in the vehicle and you drop them off. You give them a nice cold bottle of water as a complimentary gift in appreciation for their being your customer. During the ride, you talk about whatever your ride wants to and when you drop them off, you carry their bad to their front door. Then, you drive off secure in the knowledge that you secured a five star rating from this.
You find out they rated you a one because they just didn’t like you.
I just went through and had to stop the application process, because I had three demerit offenses on my record in the last three years, when you are only allowed to have two. I’ve had no accidents and the demerits were for going 15km over the speed limit. It’s not the points. It’s the fact that I have three demerit offenses on my record.
I have to wait until they filter out.
I have a 2009 Ford Focus. It’s maintenance schedule is 8,000 km, to which they will do an oil change which is about $150 or so, I think. However, if something else, like brakes, need to be done, they bill goes up considerably.
I was only giving approximates based on my memory of what I know I have paid in the past.
150 dollar oil change?
Well, maybe not, if you use common core math! ;-)
Yeah, that’s what I get charged. Mechanics always charge for a minimal time, regardless of the work done.
I am surprised they do it in New York without too much trouble, but would face severe penalties in Texas.
That’s a good point; they have to be half mechanic, half IT specialist...
You don’t recall Cash for Clunkers?
I remember hearing about “Cash for Clunkers” but don’t remember looking into it.
Now I have... What a shame. All those cars... Yes, that would explain a lot.
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