Question: While Uber is a highly valued "unicorn," with a seemingly high disregard for regulations and other external factors that would slow its growth, other competing firms are taking a somewhat different route to the ride-hailing marketplace. For example, Lyft was also started in San Francisco, and since 2012 it has been growing across the country and the globe. Lyft started out as a ride-sharing service (Zimride) targeting college students heading home for the holidays. The firm continues to focus on building a trusting community of drivers and riders-a community that is both social and cost-effective. In fall 2015 Lyft also announced a partnership with China's primary ride-hailing service.59 Another Uber competitor is Sidecar LLC. Sidecar has a ride-hailing app as well as a carpooling app and an app-enabled delivery service. In your groups, do some Internet research about Uber competitors.
1. What similarities and differences do you find in the way these firms have implemented sometimes similar ideas?
2. Discuss why traditional taxi companies, such as Yellow Cabs and those needing medallions (such as in New York City), are choosing to attempt to prohibit these app-enabled, ride-hailing services rather than aggressively implementing their own app-calling systems.