<p>Ride-sharing services such as Lyft and Uber will soon be required to pay fees to operate at the Martha’s Vineyard Airport.</p>
Ride-sharing services such as Lyft and Uber will soon be required to pay fees to operate at the Martha’s Vineyard Airport.
At its meeting last week the airport commission voted unanimously to begin regulating the ride-sharing companies, much the same way taxis are regulated.
Airport manager Ann Crook said Lyft has agreed to pay a fee of $1,700 annually, and she expects Uber to follow suit. The airport charges taxi companies $1,500 annually to pick up and drop off fares, and provides an area for taxis to wait for departing passengers.
“This is a brand new industry,” said Ms. Crook. “There are some airports that are not allowing it. My guess is that Uber and Lyft are probably making money on the airport right now. This is a way to jump in there and get some financial reward for it.”
Commission chairman Myron Garfinkle agreed.
“Our taxi fellows, many of them feel that transportation networks are a threat for various reasons,” he said. “It is our position that it is not up to us to decide the qualifications of licensing, the qualifications of insurance. That’s up to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, the registry, the West Tisbury and Edgartown police departments. Until proven to us that this is not a good service, we’re willing to accept this service.”
Also last week, commissioners voted to begin charging tenants of the airport business park actual costs for water from the Oak Bluffs water district.
Mr. Garfinkle said the airport is currently being charged approximately $160,000 per year for water, but charging tenants only half that amount.
The commission voted to begin charging tenants the full cost of water, beginning with the next quarterly billing cycle.
Comments
Its a good decision by the
deshandra brown mvIts a good decision by the commissioners, and good for the consumer. When I pay for a cab, I don't expect to 'share' a cab with others while the cab operator charges full fares to each passenger destination vs 'sharing' the costs (as is done in the rest of the world) I'm looking forward a clean vehicle operated by a polite Uber driver (who is concerned that my rating of his/her trip is important)vs a cabbie that just wants to make as much money for themselves as possible. All of those years of jamming multiple fares into their cabs is going to come back and bite them in the A$$. Competition is good!
What’s next ? Going to charge
Eddie Mac North NoepeWhat’s next ? Going to charge for a neighbor dropping me off to catch a flight ? Or installing an a vehicle entrance toll system like they have in Las Vegas or Chicago ?
Vineyard cabbies should be frightened of Uber & Lyft. They are customer demand specific,operate current model CLEAN vehicles,
and have uniform regulated fares. They don’t “ share” ride customers Something we have not seen anywhere on the Vineyard for decades.
But then again we must do everything we can to raise revenue for MS Crook’s salary and other shortfalls at the airport..........
I would imagine the
Jean WtI would imagine the traditional taxi companies might be a bit territorial since this will be yet one more venue they'll have to compete with uber. You may want all who participate know that if they're involved in any confrontations etc while in the assigned areas their access to the airport will be suspended. Best to anticipate perhaps to avoid issues during season.
Why are they charging Lyft
Huh? EdgartownWhy are they charging Lyft more than the cab companies? Seems like the fee should be the same or even less if those companies aren't allowed to use the taxi waiting area.
I'm rather surprised that any
Uber userI'm rather surprised that any charge could be levied at all. How would Airport personnel tell the difference between an Uber or Lyft vehicle and that of my friend dropping me off?
Well, Gazette, it's Tuesday.
Benoit Baldwin West TisburyWell, Gazette, it's Tuesday. You have plenty of time to get this article right before it goes to print. 1. Let’s All Join The AP Stylebook In Killing The Term “Ride-Sharing” (BuzzFeed.com, Jan. 8, 2015). Yes, let's. Let's stop being unpaid publicity agents for for-profit corporations with billion-dollar valuations and a fraudulent business model. The only "sharing" going on in an Uber/Lyft is with the profits of an illegal taxicab franchise, aka, "racketeering". 2. The airport has no authority to "regulate" any ride-for-hire business. The FAA regulates air travel; towns and cities regulate taxis. Fix the headline; fix the article. 3. The airport has the authority to contract with vendors to provide service to it. The airport has decided to contract with illegal taxicab franchises, despite said rackets operating at the airport (in Uber's case, for over a year) under the belief they need no contract, license, or permission from anyone. McDonald's, Starbucks, et al., take note: setting up shop on the Vineyard is now as easy as for a child's lemonade stand. If the authorities step in, just wet their beaks a little. Capisce, paesano? 4. The illegal taxicab franchises do not and cannot meet the terms of the contract required by the airport for licensed taxicabs, therefore there exists an inequity, therefore a remedy will be sought in the proper venue.
Here's the best way for the
WashAbhored EdgartownHere's the best way for the taxi companies on the Island to get rid of Uber, Lfyt, etc. I guarantee it will work.
1. Provide decent service.
2. Provide decent vehicles
3. Provide fair rates stated PRIOR to the person getting in the taxi.
4. Provide an easy way for the customer to see the vehicle and the driver prior to getting in the vehicle.
5. Provide an easy way for the customer to review and make compliments/complaints about the service received.
6. Give potential customers the ability to see those reviews before engaging with the taxi/driver.
7. Have the cabs and drivers driving habits tracked by GPS so that dangerous and illegal driving leads to suspension/termination.
8. Don't require people to get in a dirty, old van with three or four other parties and travel to all of their destinations first and still have to pay full fare.
9. Let the customer know where their cab is prior to picking them up, how long it will take for the driver to get there and how long their ride will take.
I don't believe any of those are unreasonable. They're certainly not impossible as they're being done today by your competition.
Or, I guess, if you can't/don't want to compete...you can try and litigate.
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