If ever a community is in need of Uber and Lyft, it is Key West. Taxi service slow, vehicles filthy. Locals and tourists alike do not receive the door to door service they are entitled to. Uber and Lyft would assist in relieving traffic congestion.
Uber tried a couple of years ago. Key West’s Bubba system won out. Taxi owners won. Uber left.
The Florida House of Representatives had a bill filed this week structuring requirements for online car service. Considered the beginning of getting Uber and Lyft on the streets of all Florida communities. The bill still has the State Senate to go through and then must be signed into law by the Governor.
Lyft is testing the waters. The bill is not required. However, municipalities have been using the excuse of waiting for State direction before allowing Uber and Lyft to provide service.
The Key West story.
Lyft is testing the waters. A Lyft vehicle has been operating in Key West since thursday. Only one.
How will Key West react to this solitary Lytle vehicle? Stop the service? Arrest the driver as they did with Uber? Let this sole driver slide into the signing of the new law?
My one day time trip away from home yesterday afternoon was to Publix. Prices continue to edge up. Amazing! We soon will have to raise our own produce and animals for slaughter (said with tongue in cheek).
I question how people can continue to afford groceries. Especially in a stagnant income situation.
Spent most of the day lying around. Being lazy. Read, slept, watched TV.
Wonderful evening! Enjoyed the company of Tim and Linda at the Hot Tin Roof. Both Madison County, New York residents. Visiting Key West. Ted lives in Cazenovia. Linda in a small town outside Canastota.
Ted is a former Court Clerk. Linda worked in the judicial system. Ted here for a month. Staying at the Banyan. Linda visiting for a week. Both good company. Enjoyed Linda, especially.
We started at 7. We were one of the last tables to leave. The sign of a great evening.
Weekends are unusually busy at the Hot Tin Roof. Extra help hired for the weekends. Most, young immigrants. Hard working! Impressive!
I do one Facebook video a day. A Key West Lou one. Number of followers increasing. Dramatically.
Interestingly, most blog readers are not video followers and vice versa.
One of the Sunday morning talk show commentators made what I consider a comically true statement re Trump. Something to the effect…..If Trump wants to find he is #1 in everything, he should buy a mirror.
Those of you who comment do so at your own risk. Some days are brutal. Today, not. An excellent review of healthcare problems. Zeroing in on one party payer, Medicare, and supplemental plans.
Enjoy your Sunday!
How the small issues are similar to larger ones. Using protectionism to keep out the competition, as is the case with Uber vs using protectionism to protect US jobs. There is nothing wrong with more transportation choices for Key West, it may even improve the established companies regarding price and service. There is nothing wrong with a free market concept, it may increase quality, lower cost of products and require the big boys to pocket a more reasonable piece of the pie.
I’ll be interesting to see what happens when an accident happens and the law suits start.
Patrick, I believe über covers drivers with a one million dollar policy, To put the amount in perspective – Key West settled for $100k less in the wrongful death civil case of Charles Eimer at the hands of the KW police dept- it is safe to say, based on the investigation, that was less of an accident than what über may encounter . Given the fact that standard umbrella policies are at the 1 million mark the driver would be adequately protected. Über, I gather is insured to a far greater extent.