Uber Shut Down in Kansas By Special Regulations Despite Veto

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Uber Shut Down in Kansas By Special Regulations Despite Veto

Rules stifle innovative transport startup

By Rightwingconspirator

Economy • May 2015 • Views: 1,617

*Sigh* Uber is such a better experience than the allegedly regulated taxis are. Sad to see the setback.

Uber on Tuesday abruptly stopped operating in Kansas.

The move came after state lawmakers voted to override Gov. Sam Brownback’s veto of a transportation bill that would impose new regulations on ride-hailing companies.

Uber confirmed the news to The Huffington Post via email, writing:

Following the Kansas legislature’s vote to override Governor Brownback’s veto of SB 117, Uber has ceased operations throughout the state. We’re saddened by the loss of hundreds of jobs, safe rides and transportation choice for consumers in Kansas.

More: Uber Shuts Down in Kansas

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9 comments

EiMitch May 8, 2015 12:54:37pm

Compared to cab companies, Uber does scant to vet their drivers for safety and competence. And the tools they provide to their drivers are unreliable crap. They don’t care if their drivers are actually making money or losing it. In other words, Uber is the Walmart of transportation.

The only thing that saddens Uber is that they can’t make money in Kansas by their shady methods anymore.

Great White Snark May 8, 2015 1:02:32pm

re: #1 EiMitch

I have used cabs and Uber quite a few times. I call Uber first, at least they never sent a drunk driver!

Yellow Cab Conducts Regular Background Checks? That’s Not What It Said Under Oath.

bratwurst May 8, 2015 1:55:55pm

re: #1 EiMitch

I live near O’Hare in Chicagoland. Unfortunately, Uber is not an option when I arrive at the airport, the city has banned them. Instead I have to get into a traditional cab where I am destined to disappoint a driver who has just had his fantasy of a huge fare to the city shattered by my 4 mile ride home. As a result about 50% of the time I get horrible service including having the meter turned on before the driver leaves the car to do paperwork with the dispatcher (illegal), having the driver refuse to use the route I request (also illegal) and in one instance being verbally assaulted by a driver for complaining about the above.

Forgive me if I am not sufficiently outraged at Uber.

Dark_Falcon May 9, 2015 8:21:39am

re: #3 bratwurst

I live near O’Hare in Chicagoland. Unfortunately, Uber is not an option when I arrive at the airport, the city has banned them. Instead I have to get into a traditional cab where I am destined to disappoint a driver who has just had his fantasy of a huge fare to the city shattered by my 4 mile ride home. As a result about 50% of the time I get horrible service including having the meter turned on before the driver leaves the car to do paperwork with the dispatcher (illegal), having the driver refuse to use the route I request (also illegal) and in one instance being verbally assaulted by a driver for complaining about the above.

Forgive me if I am not sufficiently outraged at Uber.

Honestly, BW, I’d order a suburban taxi from American Taxi when you’re coming home from O’Hare. That way the driver knows in advance he’s taking you to a nearby suburb and is far less likely to be butthurt about it. It’s still a circa $20 dollar ride, but that’s enough money that in my experience drivers don’t get pissy about it.

electrotek May 10, 2015 10:06:37am

I can’t believe people here will defend Uber. Uber is no different from Walmart in my opinion. Fuck Uber for perpetuating the cycle of worker exploitation and contributing to the increasing inequality.

Dark_Falcon May 10, 2015 3:08:13pm

re: #5 electrotek

I can’t believe people here will defend Uber. Uber is no different from Walmart in my opinion. Fuck Uber for perpetuating the cycle of worker exploitation and contributing to the increasing inequality.

Bratwurst and RWC are as much decrying cab company problems as they are defending Uber. The fact remains that Uber’s policy of disclosing the price in advance to the customer has met with support from folks like Bratwurst who have had bad experiences with taxis related to the fare. I’ve had my own problems with drivers being hostile because I wasn’t the big fare they were hoping for. Uber’s competition has sparked a reform of problem practices for a number of cab companies.

In the case of the taxi company I sometimes use, American Taxi, Uber’s competition has caused them to use fixed rates more often and to disclose the rate in advance to the customer. Fixed rates are only used when the full destination address has been provided and it is disclosed to the driver before he gets to his pick-up location. This has resulted in lower fares in some cases (I increase my tip in those cases), but it has also gotten rid of an often poisonous uncertainty.

So even if Uber isn’t the cat’s meow, it growth is due to it solving real problems in the marketplace. And for helping to solve those problems? Yeah, that’s something I’ll defend Uber for doing.

shecky May 10, 2015 4:07:18pm

re: #5 electrotek

I can’t believe people here will defend Uber. Uber is no different from Walmart in my opinion.

You say that like it’s a bad thing.

I don’t understand the passionate objections, particularly from people on the left, to the likes of Uber. Eliminate Uber, for whatever reason you can twist into, and the market is left to those paragons of ethical employment practice, the taxi companies, and the absolutely absurd anti-competition and anti-consumer medallion schemes taxis operate under. And all the people with odd hours of free time, and an otherwise idle automobile can no longer utilize those resources for generating income.

Enter a company that challenges the model, and all of a sudden those self styled trail blazers for consumer protection against big business and government set up cartels are all for the status quo! Unwilling to attack the system as it had been run, it targets the only entity willing to do so.

cinesimon May 10, 2015 6:03:16pm

re: #2 Great White Snark

Yep, your anecdotes TOTALLY reflect all of reality.

cinesimon May 10, 2015 6:08:01pm

re: #7 shecky

Oh, sure - set up your simplistic black and white argument. Tell us what ‘the left’ believe and why ‘we’ believe it. Just know that what you’re actually saying is, you’re not interested in engaging in an honest debate.

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