wco81

I just checked Opoli and it's over 3X the fare of Uber/Lyft. Apparently nicer cars than Uber X and maybe the drivers are wearing suits or uniforms.

Eastbay1K

I see former Bayporter Express vans from time to time around the area - you can tell where the lettering was removed, as the paint isn't as faded. As for your parking wish, be careful what you wish for. While the price of parking isn't necessarily competitive to Uber/Lyft if you live relatively close in, the cost of running the lots (i.e., probably close to $25/hr for the total wage cost per employee work hour, keeping the vans in decent shape, a few $ per every circle around the airport, and so on) isn't necessarily cheap. What we could easily end up with is the SFO lots simply selling their real estate for much more than they're making in the parking business, and there will be fewer lots with even higher pricing.

As far as Uber/Lyft pricing, it is quite variable, and I've seen rates nearing $100 at peak times for a 25 mile ride. They're rarely under $50 anymore.

Jaimito Cartero

Any shuttle service from PHX? I used Execucar or SS.

Both Lyft and Uber were making noises to stop airport service if they levied a higher dropoff/pickup fee. I see Lyft doing pickups in the app today. Family members coming back next week.

empedocles

SS website is still up.
I just tried a test booking, and it didn't error out...
(No, I did not complete the booking.)

ijgordon

That's obviously the business strategy for Uber/Lyft - smoke out the competition so you can raise prices to a sustainable level after everyone is hooked on the service. The problem is, I think, that in the markets where they get most of their revenue (e.g., London, NY, SF), there will always be competing services - namely taxis and even other livery car services (e.g., Minicabs, Carmel/Dial), as well as good public transportation options.

In contrast, in the 'burbs, I think they've definitely created a new market (or significantly expanded the small taxi industry there), but I don't think they'll ever get the scale they need.
When I used to come home from college (mid-90s), I'd take the train to New Brunswick, NJ, and have to sit and wait at the taxi office until there was a car (and often other pax) to take me home if my parents weren't available to pick me up. Such a hassle. So much easier nowadays I'm sure!

wco81

Or they should just merge.

Then see if they can underprice taxis.

wco81

Just got a notice, Uber will only show a price estimate and actual price of ride will be calculated at end of trip in CA.

I know it doesn't have to do with SS and other shared airport transfer services disappearing but what timing.

Eastbay1K

It is all about passage of AB 5 and an attempt to show that drivers are ICs, not employees, as there's now also more driver control on ride acceptance / rejection, etc.

wco81

Oh I know there were legislative changes driving this

Just wondering if there are going to be surprises the next time I take a 1-hour ride to SFO.

ijgordon

Well I hope they disclose the details behind how they calculate the fare - namely the per-mile and per-minute rates.

But I'm still not really sure I understand how removing the predetermined fare supports the argument that they're independent contractors and not employees, if they're still allowed more control over whether to accept or reject a ride (and provided with necessary information to make that decision, like pickup/dropoff location -- and the fare!). It's not like they're setting their own rates, right?

bennos

This is my primary Uber/Lyft use case... the "last mile" to/from suburban train stations. (And, secondarily, airports to downtown where there is no good transit option and I'm not renting a car.)

I wonder what effect the increased availability of rail transit to airports has helped kill off SuperShuttle and similar services. eg I remember taking them in from SFO before BART. In the last two decades or so, we've seen rail links to SFO, OAK, JFK, EWR, SEA, PDX, DEN, MIA, MSP, DFW and SLC come on line. It seems like these would be a bit more direct competition to SuperShuttle than Uber/Lyft, which seem more like direct competition to taxis and car services.