Tampa Taxi Shots

After 24 years of driving taxi for United Cab of Tampa, I am now driving for LYFT. Good call, I think. Ride share has taken over and the taxi companies are going the way of the pay phone and the corner video store.

I took delivery of my Lyft car today. Its an Elantra which gets about 32 miles to the gallon and the technology should make this much easier than the antiquated taxi dispatch system. 

Taxi companies are dying nationwide The oldest and one of the largest cab companies in America is up for sale. They were headed for bankruptcy as Uber and Lyft have taken all of the street business and the drivers have defected because they cannot make money. The politicians, that claim to be Democrats, have no courage and will not do what is right to protect the public, and a regulated industry.

Adnan Nafasat of Chicago was charged with Kidnapping, unlawful restraint, and sexual assault while driving for Uber X For the second time in three weeks, an Uber driver in Chicago has been charged with sexual assault. Adnan Nafasat was charged with sexual assault, kidnapping, and unlawful restraint. He was held in Cook County jail on $150,000 bail. According to the arrest report, he was driving for Uber X when t he assault accrued. From the Chicago Tribune : "On the early morning of July 31, the 21-year-old victim contacted Uber and asked to be picked up in the 700 block of West Cornelia Avenue in the Lakeview East neighborhood, according to state's attorney spokesman Steve Campbell. As the victim was about to enter Nafasat's car, he was told to sit in the front seat because the driver said the rear seats were dirty and broken, according to prosecutors. After the victim gave the driver his destination, Nafasat reached over and grabbed the man's thigh and tri...

Uber driver trolling illegally Uber sent an email to its drivers giving them tips on how to make picking up at Tampa Airport more efficient and enjoyable for its customers. The email was BS. It was directions on how to not get caught by the HCPTC and be subject to arrest . It this the kind of business people want to associate with? A business that is a total outlaw?  "While we continue our discussions with authorities on ways to develop a long-term solution," the email said, "here are a few things you can do to meake the pickup and drop off experience more enjoyable for both you and the rider. Keep your Uber phone off the windshield - put it down in your cupholder Ask the rider if they will sit up front Use the lanes farthest from the terminal curbside for pickup and drop off Call your rider to ensure an efficient and easy pickup "Remember, if you receive a ticket while picking up or dropping off Uber riders at the airport, Uber will reimburse y...

A business model of defiance and law breaking has underscored the flaw in Uber's thinking. They are dealing with humans. Their driver are dangerous and have not been screened by law enforcement.

They even Twitter about it One of the things naive women have expressed is how "safe" they feel with unveted, unlicensed, non-criminally background compliant, Uber Drivers. Word is spreading. Sexual predators are now driving Uber to come into close proximity with beautiful women. Drunk beautiful women. They make easy marks.

Listen, you Uber fuckers, you screwheads. You are stealing my shit. I tried to be rational (What's that?). But not now. I am a man who will not take it anymore. A man who stands up against the scum, the cunts, the dogs, the filth, the shit. I am a man who stands up. Look at it this way. A man takes a job, you know? And that job - I mean, like that - That becomes what he is. You know, like - You do a thing and that's what you are. Like I've been a cabbie for nineteen years. Ten years at night. I still don't own my own cab. You know why? Because I don't want to. That must be what I want. To be on the night shift drivin' somebody else's cab. You understand? I mean, you become - You get a job, you become the job. One guy lives in a shit hole, another lives on drugs. You pick up a lawyer. Another guy's a doctor. Another guy dies. Another guy gets well. People are born, y'know? Why do you want to drive Uber? You think you can avoid your destiny? You'l...

You can see from my control panel that I have a computer, a GPS device, a credit card machine and printer. In fact, when I'm in route, three text messages are sent to advise you of my progress in getting to you. If you are using our app, the icon will show the location of my licensed, insured, and background checked driver. Our quality exceeds Uber. Just think of the Orlando Uber driver who tried to rape a women. Did you know he had been fired from every taxi company in town? So now you know. posted from Bloggeroid

This is part of an article posted in the Huffington Post by Ulmar Lee, a St. Louis cab driver and writer of science fiction. Yes, cabs serve Ferguson and I bet Lyft does not. Just another cabbie trying to make a living "To call a spade a spade, Lyft and Uber aren't coming to serve good ol' St. Louis Hoosiers or North St. Louis. Nope, they are coming by invitation and for the hipster population (and to a lesser extent business people and college students). Hence they kicked off at Nebula (the center of hipster thought in St. Louis). So, now, let me use this time to call out hipsters and ask: What kind of a society do you want to live in? Do you favor the right-wing economics of the GOP or do you favor a more humane and just society? Hipsters are mostly associated with the left and being progressive. But with a closer look you could very well come to a different conclusion. Of course there are many brilliant and progressive folks in the hipster population who do muc...

From Lyft driver Lisa Roberts FaceBook "Sorry these old cab drivers spent so much money, but people spent a lot of money on 8 tracks and DOS computers, which didn't stop technology or progress.  Riders prefer Lyft because our cars smell better, we don't mind short rides, they don't have to argue with us about payment and most importantly, we don't leave them standing on a street in the middle of the night!" Lisa was wrong on all of her points "OLD" - Your no spring chicken yourself "Stop technology or progress" - Breaking the law is not technology . Killing off industries so Lyft drivers have money for pot is not Progress. "Cars smell better" - you can eat off the floor of my cab. It is just that clean. Wait until the late night hipsters puke in your car and tell me how good it smells.  "Argue about payment" - We except many forms of payment. Lyft only takes your credit card. " Sho...

Up to six passengers can ride Undaunted by threats and tickets and criminal charges against drivers, the ride-sharing company Lyft has just launched a new SUV ride service in the Tampa Bay area called Lyft Plus. The offering, launched nationally, promises modern, clean SUVs that can carry up to six passengers and directly rivals minivan services by local taxi and limo services. San Francisco-based Lyft started experimenting with Lyft Plus in its home market last May. “Thousands of rides later, passengers are now using Lyft Plus on a daily basis,” the company posted on its blog this week. As a promotion, the company is setting the rate for Lyft Plus at 1.5 times the price of normal sedan Lyft rides, which are charged based on time and distance, with Lyft promising typical discounts of 30 to 40 percent off existing taxi rates. Currently, Lyft’s pricing chart shows a minimum cost of $7, with $2.03 a mile and 21 cents a minute. Thursday, the Lyft app showed at least ...

Following the crowd is the opposite of the Uber Man...They want your mind...don't let them have it! There is more at stake then a ride to work. The battle for man's mind has begun. The Internet has made many things possible and reacting with incomplete information has had a debilitating effect on peoples behaviour and mental acuity. The ability to assess facts accurately has been diminished. When wide swaths of hipsters chose to use a ride share company because it has a slick app, without considering the consequences to society, then harm is being done. Ignoring that modern society is structured by law - they proceed anyway. This course must be redirected Back in the dark ages, villagers and townspeople would often react to a rumor and then take action swiftly to bring justice upon the presumed guilty party without waiting for the authorities to resolve it. The more emotionally attached people were to the crime, the less real or confirmed information they needed to follow...

I sort of stick out in this sea of pink I always seem to get on TV. This is Tim Fasano (in the yellow shirt with camera) sitting in the room full of Lyft and Uber drivers. Did you ever feel really alone? These rideshare people are operating an illegal business that is cutting into my livelyhood, and I wanted the Hillsborough County Commission to know it. The Lyft drivers are a bunch of punks and  kids who have never worked a day in their lives. They will get whats coming to them. How do you spell douchebags? You will see me in the video shown on the local news.

Victor Crist the county commisioner and head of HCPTC I got a call from Rob Searcy yesterday. He wanted me to attend the Hillsborough County board hearing about letting ride-sharing companies such as Lyft and Uber coming into the area. They are already here. What I found amusing was that they were discussing the issue at all. let me explain. Rob Searcy defending our position I got my hair cut yesterday and could not help but notice the number of permits and licenses the barber had on his mirror. I guess that goes for any business. Could I set up a booze cart in front of a bar and sell liquor for half the bars price without a license? NO! There is no business in which you can do that. So, why is Hillsborough county even considering such a thing as illegal taxi services. All businesses have regulations based on the local, state, and federal laws. There people, however, think they are above the law. You could sense their arrogance. What I hear is that Victor Crist is leaving them...

Travel blogger Keri Anderson decided she was going to try out Uber rival Lyft. She was on her way to a steakhouse and wasn't in the mood to take a cab since it was pretty late. Only problem: she happened to be in Tampa. And ridesharing startups like Uber and Lyft happen to be illegal in Florida. Moments after Anderson hopped into her Lyft driver's car, an officer from the Hillsborough Public Transportation Commission was walking up to the driver's window. Instead of bolting, Anderson decided to stick around and see how the interaction played out, and she describes the experience in a post on the Heels First blog. Both the officer and driver assured Anderson she would not be in any trouble, but the officer proceeded to write up a bunch of citations for the driver. A hundred bucks for not having the right license and then $200 to Lyft for illegally hiring her, plus $600 for two other violations. And on top of that, the officer warned the driver that she was plan...

We should do this in Tampa jBay to show we mean business and want the mayor to stop illegal operators IF only the French could fight their wars as bravely as they fight against markets, eh? The latest is that several Parisian taxi drivers have beaten up someone driving an Uber limo : this is even after the French Government just passed a, quite probably illegal, law to favour the taxis over the  Uber drivers : It seems that protest turned to guerrilla warfare this morning as one Uber driver, carrying Eventbrite CTO Renaud Visage & Kat Borlongan from the airport to Paris, was attacked by multiple assailants, who allegedly, after smashing one window and slashing two tires (as seen in the photo), as well as defacing one side of the car with glue, attempted to enter the vehicle. Borlongan says their Uber driver manoeuvered the two out of the situation before anything could happen, leaving the three stranded on the shoulder of the freeway. Here’s the background: just as...

Uber and Lyft are companies formed in Lilly white silicon valley, by Lilly white computer geeks, who would not know what the hood looked like even if they ventured into Oakland. They have put together a business model that is for white people, and excludes blacks, and most poor people. Their intent is to only cheery pick the best, and richest fares in any community, and Redline the hood and poor areas.   This is easily done by allowing the drivers to not only choose where they work, but allow them to choose who they will pick up. The driver can rate the customer and, then, nobody will pick them up. If the rider does not tip (which is cultural and common with inner city people), they will get a bad rating and no Uber or Lyft guy will pick them up. I must pick them up even if they don't tip. A typical attitude of a Lyft rider is like the comment left on this site.  You have to accept the new and ever changing world of technology and what people are comfortable with. M...

The HCPTC is trying to warn the public about illegal operators Uber and Lyft. They have taken out a billboard at I4 & 50th st. I saw it today. Uber has fired back with an email campaign targeting Victor Crist, the commission head. He really does not give a shit about them and their illegal operating. Uber and Lyft drivers will go to jail in Hillsborough county if they continue to operate. posted from Bloggeroid

Here is a Lyft driver in Tampa putting the stupid mustache on his car (does his insurance company know he is doing this? I bet not). This guy is an asshole who is out trying to take money away from licensed, legal, and insured drivers that are playing by the rules. He looks like a former college student who does not want to serve coffee at Starbucks, so he thinks he can be a hack. I have a few words for these jerks in the video below. I have a feeling this battle has just begun between the legal operators and the scabs. This has the potential to get very ugly. I need to find my baseball bat.