Is this the beginning or the end?

Today, the New York Times reported that the New York City government will soon be launching an official cab-sharing program, executed through a variety of different methods.  Read more about it in the New York Post HERE and on the CBS affiliate HERE.  Or from the Daily News HERE.  Or on amNewYork HERE.  Check out ABC’s local (video) coverage of the program HERE.

Has our idea been coopted and rendered moot?  Is our website obsolete only eleven days after launch?

Or is NYC doing the heavy-lifting groundwork for us?  In education cab commuters in the art of splitting fares, our model is being forcefully shoved into the public forum.  If user habits support cab-sharing as the city government envisions it, CabCorner may be well positioned to take the program to the next level… online.

ALSO:
Please vote in these polls. Let the world know of the extensive interest in cab sharing!

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/feature?section=news&id=6836978
AND
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/05/27/2009-05-27_shareataxiride_idea_being_pitched_by_taxi_and_limousine_commission.html

1. Jesse Says:
   May 27th, 2009 at 6:17 pm

   Check out our Founder’s thoughts on the subject:

   “Upon hearing that this article was written, before actually reading it, I was anxious and agitated. However, after reading it, I realize that not only does this push the needle on the concept of sharing cabs and thus creates more public acceptance of the idea, it is clear that even if their first year pilot program of using LED readouts on top of sharing cabs is deemed a success, it does not address the issue of creating the most efficient rides, tailored to the individual’s needs. It’s still a game of chance.

   Cabcorner takes the guess work and therefore wasted time out of having to wait for the right kind of cab to come along to enjoy the financial benefits of splitting a cab. Additionally, accountability and pre-identifiability seems to be an issue that many commenters are bringing up. Our platform requires a profile (at least) and we have some way to create a sense of accountability by having users use working email accounts. In this respect, we allow those who are concerned about being confronted with a certain type of person, at the very least have a way to screen for some of the most obvious negatives for a picky person, such as our gender preference option and use of profile pictures as a way to assume some control over the pairing.

   I think it is a good thing, maybe even a great thing that the city is doing this.”