What Lyft and Uber will take from the Tampa taxi business

A lyft car at the Iconic sign on Florida ave downtown Tampa

I have been a hack in Tampa Florida since 1995. Unlike the estimated 50% of Americans that hate their jobs, I have never had a day when I did not feel like going to work. Certainly, the last few years  have not been fun because the economy fell apart like a three dollar watch. However, economies are like tides and this one is on the rebound, at a snail's pace. I would like to thank Mr. Obama for that but that would not be fair. The economy is recovering despite any fiscal policy of his. That being said - there are challenges.

My job is inherently difficult. We face strange and deranged people street level on a daily basis. Taxi companies in Tampa (which are regulated) must serve the general population. We have no choice. Short fares, drunk fares, people going to buy drugs (they don't tell you that) we must pick up. Don't get me wrong, there are business people, beautiful women, great trippers, and long hauls. The difficulty comes in not really knowing if you will make any money. For someone with a gamblers personality, this job is fine. I am getting older and risk is not my favorite hobby anymore.

I am a people person. I have met some of the most outstanding people in the world doing this. People I would  have never met, I met through the cab. When my girlfriend died a few years ago, it was my passengers that gave me solace and comfort. I have met general officers from Central Command and asked them if UFO's were real or if we went to the moon in 1969. In sort, I have enjoyed my life and time as a taxi driver.

UBER and LYFT now threaten all of this

Lyft adds nothing to any community they go into. They only cannibalize on the business that is already there. In fact, their drivers only "cherry Pick" the cream. It is a hipster service being run by hipsters. Unlike cities that are regulated, these drivers will not have to work in the poor and BLACK areas of town. They can sit in their little green cars, pick up their green passengers, and feel they are saving the whales or something. All they are doing is taking the best fares away from people who have paid their dues and now, will not be able to survive.

We won't make it because the daytime business of little old ladies and poor people at grocery stores and bars will not pay the lease. Five dollar fares with no tip will not work.

UBER and LYFT are Illegal in most cities

Is that who you want to ride with? People who are breaking the law? I bet most people who drive for them are Democrats. These are the very people who criticize the Republicans for their law and order stance. I guess this proves my point. Nobody should frequent a business that is a speak easy by nature.

Drivers have been on the ropes for the last few years. There is not enough slices of the pie to go around. Men have been doing this for years and raised families doing it. Are you wanting to make beggars out of us?

If Lyft has something to contribute to the local community, then they should be giving a shot. They are not and that is why Hillsborough County has shut them out. I really believe the HCPTC should start giving out those $800 fines and impounding their cars. Maybe that would knock the smug look off their faces.

Hard Times For Tampa

Tampa Bay area has had hard times since 2007 on all fronts. We are now walking on wobbly knees. Please allow us to recover from this Tommy John. Good jobs  have left. The world has changed and I know that is the argument for the app service. This is just what the hipsters want. No, let me tell you what people should want and what they should expect.

Tampa Taxi Companies and Drivers meet regulated standards

All Hillsborough County taxi drivers have been screened by the HCPTC for criminal background. If a driver has a warrant or drug offense, he will not be allowed to drive. All drivers  have been screened by a tough as nails insurance company who will not insure drivers who get tickets. Forget about the ticket clinic helping you. If there is smoke, there's fire, and you will not be allowed to driver, until you learn to drive.

The taxi companies must carry a very high limit of liability insurance or they will be considered a threat to the community and the companies will not be allowed to operate. I am talking in the millions of dollars. The Tampa community knows when they call a cab, the driver is not a dangerous fugitive and the company has very deep pockets and is committed to providing the best service anyone can possible ask for.

Lyft is operating against a "cease and desist" order. Why does that make you so sure they have run background investigations on their drivers? What makes you think they have purchased the required liability for when one of their drunk drivers kills you or someone in your family? There is, in fact, every reason that outlaws from the start are not going to comply with any of this.

The end result of Lyft's impact

They will only serve hipsters and college kids with smart phones. Period. They poor suffer as the number of taxi drivers drop off because of the paltry wages. The Tampa Bay area suffers because of these predators. Why would Lyft care? They are based out of Seattle and Uber out of San Francisco. They have no vested interest in the Tampa area. United and  Yellow were founded by local Tampons.

That's what gets me about Bob Buckhorn - the mayor of Tampa. This cat is the one that allowed the food trucks into downtown Tampa, completely ignoring the restaurants that pay taxes and are located downtown. He justified it, in the same way he is Lyft, that in this economy we need jobs. True, what we need are jobs that people can live off of. You are making beggars out of people Buckhorn. I guess  its good your wife had a good job before you got elected because you would have been flying a sign like the rest of the bums on the streets. No offense to bums. At least they work and struggle every day. The hardest thing you ever did was take your mutt to the dog park.

There was a lady who because I was ON TIME for her airport ride, said she could not wait for Uber to come into the area. She used to be the press secretary of Jeb Bush. If she reads this, she will know who I am talking about. She offended me deeply. The worst part was, she had no idea what she was talking about. I do. I  have lived the life for 19 years and I will fight for my livelihood.

This war has just begun.