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Surfiswhereufindit t1_j6csp5z wrote

Reply to comment by Sad-Sentence4881 in Horrifying Lyft Story in NJ. by Boring_Language5662

I can only speak of using a taxi van company at the Jersey Shore -specifically coastal Monmouth and Ocean counties. The local taxi companies are comprised of employees that are local, that know the areas quite well. They are held responsible by company owners that have actual phone numbers with actual dispatchers you can call at anytime if there is a problem. These are companies that are endorsed by local police departments and borough councils. They build relationships with the towns. Regular customers of these companies get to know the drivers’ faces and have the choice to use another van or even other company with many options. Most taxi vans accommodate larger groups. In terms of traffic safety, it makes much more sense for your group of 10 people to use a company with 12 and 15-passenger vans than the classic “stuff 10 people in a Honda Accord” stunt. I can go on and on here about how and why using a taxi van company makes so much more sense than Lyft and Uber, but I’m assuming you get the point. Safer. Safer. Far more sensical.

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Sad-Sentence4881 t1_j6cumg7 wrote

I can see where that works in smaller communities most of the year. I assume (and I stress assume) in the shore communities they have to hire temporary seasonal employees that would change year to year just like most industries there. They wouldn't keep the same employee numbers in January that they would in July.

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Surfiswhereufindit t1_j6cvglk wrote

You are mostly correct. These companies do run year round and in the fall-winter-spring (pre-MDW) usually bring people to airports, weddings, concerts, Giants-Jets-Yankees-Mets, etc games). The staff doubles from MDW to LDW. But, These “seasonal drivers” have been driving for these companies for years upon years. It’s actually very hard to get this summer job because many of the companies have longtime veteran working staffs. You’ll find a lot of the summer drivers are teachers from the local Jersey Shore school districts simply working a side-hustle to support their own children. These are mature adults who have so much to lose if they were to pull some of the things that some Uber and Lyft drivers do (not saying all Uber and Lyft drivers are bad). Bottom line: when you use a taxi van company you are getting accountability, safety, and local knowledge. And oh yeah… no price gouging or random “surges” the ride share tech Bros pull off.

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