OCEAN CITY — Resort officials wrestled this week with its new policy on voluntarily buying back taxi medallions in order to increase their value in the face of stiff competition from Uber, but ultimately agreed to approve each of the requested transfers.
The Mayor and Council had before them on Tuesday a request to transfer five taxi medallions in three separate transactions and initially decided to allow two and reject three, the latter because the proposed cost of the transfer of the three medallions at $2,000 was considerably lower than their original price, perhaps illustrating the financial impact of ride-sharing operations, such as Uber, on the resort’s cab industry.
In the other two independent transfers, the sale price for one medallion was $4,000 while the other was $4,100. The council quickly approved the latter two requests, but struggled with the request to transfer three medallions for a total of $2,000. After considerable debate, they ultimately agreed to the three-medallion for $2,000 transfer by a 4-2 vote with Councilman Matt James and Wayne Hartman advocating for the town to buy back the three medallions.
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7 comments:
The council's comment about a lot of people coming to OC not having access to Uber and needing cabs is BS. People may decide not to have the Uber app but there is not a family visiting OC that at least one person doesn't have a smartphone. Cabs are dying off like retail stores. Failed to adapt to changing technology and consumers.
Tend to agree mostly with 422pm...but we older folk still like our taxi's. Problem is, WE are "dyin" off too!
YIKES!!!!
When there are no Uber's out during the winter and/or slow times, and the busses are running every hour and twenty minutes, what will you do then? Demand that the city provide more bus service?
Uber has proven that it is nothing more than a predatory company that has taken advantage of technicalities in order to circumvent the rules and laws of each state. They are a trasportation company, not a "technology company" as they always claim. Look at how they have treated their own drivers. Do you really think that they are going to provide better service and be cheaper once they drive everyone else out of business? Has that EVER happened?
Failed to adapt? How much money do you think "Big Taxi" makes? I assure you, it isn't enough to "adapt" as you say, and still turn a profit.
After reading this, I signed up for Lyft (Uber competitor).
Hey Barney enjoyed making at $5 an hour driving for Lyft or Uber
Saw a taxi with both Uber and Lyft stickers on his vehicle. He may be making more money than all the rest!
Steve, no he's making less - a lot less. That's why he's also doing Uber and Lyft. (Which isn't even allowed, BTW) He's trying to feed his family.
Many of these Uber and Lyft drivers are NOT LOCALS. They're here on vacation or they swoop in on busy weekends to "skim the cream off the top". Most of the Taxi drivers ARE local. They have families to feed and clothe just like you and me. Many have had to collect welfare because they don't make enough money to meet their expenses anymore. The money that they used to make here and spend here is leaving the area that same week. They would rather work for it.
When you use Uber and Lyft you are not supporting the locals or the local economy.
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