I understand what you are saying, but reality doesn't agree with this worldview. The reality of the situation is that some people need more help than others, and this help does cost more money/time/labor. I think overall it is a better experience if the marketplace for these services prices in the extra labor necessary for this help.
Perhaps the government could subsidize the lost time. However expecting workers to do more work for less pay is not in line with human nature.
Having children is expensive, and parents should be factoring in paying extra to do things.
The problem you are outlining is that picking up non-special needs customers is the most profitable way to be an uber driver. If there was a bonus for picking up "special needs" passengers, the incentive problem could be fixed. Right now, "special needs" passengers just get worse service, and it will always be this way unless human nature fundamentally changes or they gain a way to signal to drivers that it will be worth the driver's extra time.
Because they're legally allowed to be underpaid contractors. The law should be changed to fix the root cause, not to change this side effect. Uber drivers aren't barely making min wage because they have no incentives to pick up disabled people ...
By "fix the root cause" you mean shut down uber right? because if all the "solutions" I have seen just in this thread were required (everything from Uber outfitting every car with Hypoallergenic compartments, to paying drivers extra for different types of customers (with out charging extra to the customer ofcourse) ) then the cost of the ride would be so prohibitively expensive that no one would use the service
People seem to have this mythical belief that uber can pay every driver to drive a brand new car, at 100/hr, providing the best service for every customer every time all for 1/2 the price of a taxi
However, that is how regular taxi services work... and they're profitable. They don't ignore the ADA. They allow service animals. They help with wheelchairs and storing them appropriately - even if that requires more time for the driver. That extra cost of service is spread out across all customers and its a non-issue.
Uber's business model of trying to disrupt the taxi service by ignoring regulations is at issue here. With the ADA, they've encountered an issue that the court is not letting them ignore.
>>However, that is how regular taxi services work... and they're profitable.
That really depends on the location, and many are not profitable and in some area many only service some parts of the town / city.
Sure if you are in a large city like NYC, LA, Chicago etc, then it would be different but if you start getting out of the top 50 cities the profitability starts to drop
Also clearly taxi's are not providing the service at the value demanded of users or Uber would not exist
If Uber cannot afford to pay their drivers minimum wage, they should raise more money and operate at a loss for longer or raise fares or shut down. Any of those three solutions seem to work. And those are basic, there are others.
What if it treats 95% of of the population decently and makes a profit?
Anyone knows that getting to 80% is easy, getting from 80-90 is normally $$$$ and getting to 99.99999999999995% which is what the thread it about is $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Perhaps the government could subsidize the lost time. However expecting workers to do more work for less pay is not in line with human nature.
Having children is expensive, and parents should be factoring in paying extra to do things.
The problem you are outlining is that picking up non-special needs customers is the most profitable way to be an uber driver. If there was a bonus for picking up "special needs" passengers, the incentive problem could be fixed. Right now, "special needs" passengers just get worse service, and it will always be this way unless human nature fundamentally changes or they gain a way to signal to drivers that it will be worth the driver's extra time.
Many Uber drivers barely make minimum wage.