Letter | Myrtle Beach cab drivers more invested in community than Uber

Cab drivers more invested than Uber

Re July 26 letter, “Myrtle Beach: Time to embrace the Uber revolution or lose tourists,” by Tom Huston.

Huston is crying sour grapes because he, as an Uber driver, has to adhere to the same rules and regulations in Myrtle Beach as local cab owners and drivers do.

Trust me, I don't think Myrtle Beach is cash-starved; they are just enforcing regulations that were in place long before upstart Uber slid into town.

You claim that your cars have to be clean and well kept under the contract. All taxis licensed within Myrtle Beach are subject to a bi-annual inspection by our local police department, assuring that these vehicles meet stringent requirements. Also, there is a State Taxi Officer who can come to town at any given date or time and stop and inspect any taxi at his digression.

Not only that, all cabs are required to carry high liability insurance at all times. Can you claim the same for your family car?

If Uber thinks it is going to contribute to the prevention of DUIs, you are a Johnny-come-lately in this department. The company I work for started the Safe Ride program for any intoxicated person on New Year's Eve and Super Bowl Sunday as long as the request is made by a bar keeper.

Now may I ask, does Uber owner, the billionaire Travis Kalanick, care one iota about Myrtle Beach? Does he return any of his profits locally? Most cab drivers and owners live in the Myrtle Beach area or Horry County and have a vested interest that our community survives and thrives - because this is paramount to our existence!

All monies earned - and all profits made - are reinvested here, locally.

Can you say the same for a San Francisco-based outfit? Uber may be cheap, but the old saying goes, you get what you pay for.

This story was originally published July 29, 2015 at 7:56 AM with the headline "Letter | Myrtle Beach cab drivers more invested in community than Uber."