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| Student driver Darryl Roberts behind the wheel |
Bengal News West Reporters
Video games, drinks, food, and good
company are what every college student looks forward to after a long week of
classes, however, giving up these nights to make a little extra cash has become
the routine for some student drivers.
College students on the West Side have
created what is known as the underground cab service. Using their own cars, these
drivers provide fellow students with a more affordable means of transportation
to get pretty much anywhere they need to go.
Since 2014, this underground cab
service has become a lucrative business that benefits both the students and the
drivers. In turn however, it is a disadvantage to already established taxi
companies in the Buffalo area.
Graduate student Darryl Roberts, 23, participates as one of the student drivers knowing he can triple the amount of money he would make by working at a retail store. Making extra cash on the side by driving others became the new thing.
Roberts has made roughly $3,000
since he started sixth months ago. He mentioned that he has made up to as much
as $150 in a single day.
“I didn’t have any money,” Roberts
said. “I like to look out for my people, that’s another reason why I started
it.”
Students have the opportunity to
get to their destination with the convenience of having a possible classmate be
their driver.
Facebook groups serve as the primary
channel to get a ride somewhere. It is as simple as posting in the group and
waiting for a timely response from one or even multiple people offering their
services. However, word of mouth is just as effective. People exchange numbers
and before he knew it, Roberts started receiving calls from other campuses such
as D’Youville College, Canisus College and University at Buffalo.
“It’s convenient, comfortable and
very affordable for students,” said Gordon Carr, a student at the University at
Buffalo. “Ten dollars to the bus station and $20 to the airport, you can’t beat
it.”
While student drivers have become
more popular to college students, it has begun to take a toll on established
taxi services throughout Buffalo.
“Yeah they take away some customers
but we do what we do,” said Nicole Price of Buffalo Transportation, Inc., one
of Buffalo’s many 24/7-taxi companies. “At the end of the day we’re a business,
we’re going to get ours.”
Not only do taxi drivers around the
city have to worry about student drivers, they also are concerned about
companies such as Uber and Lyft coming and taking fares too.
Lyft and Uber are not currently
operating in Buffalo, there’s no doubt that a desire is brewing to make it
available throughout the city. While Lyft was in Buffalo for a short period of
time, service was suspended in August 2014 in compliance with NYS insurance
laws. New York City is the only place where Uber is allowed throughout the
state while legislature battles to pass a bill that will alter state insurance
laws and allow these companies to operate statewide.
While Mayor Byron Brown continues
his support of bringing Uber to WNY, Buffalo remains the largest city in the
country without the popular taxi app. Although
they may get around state legislature by staying underground, Roberts mentioned
a possible organization making it possible for all student drivers to work
together.
Advocates of these alternative cab
services say it’s convenient and affordable. That’s why this underground
service excels throughout colleges in Buffalo.
“We’re definitely taking away from
their business. But, I think we should be very unapologetic about that,”
Roberts said. “They have no reservations about overcharging us so I think we
should take every last penny we can.”
