Groundwater companies face off in San Antonio pipeline project...

Groundwater companies face off in San Antonio pipeline project...

What’s next for Uber, Lyft and Austin’s fingerprint check...

What’s next for Uber, Lyft and Austin’s fingerprint check...

Troxclair: Don’t drive ridesharing out of Austin

Check out Austin City Council Member Troxclair's (District 8) defense keeping the status quo on TNC regulations:  Troxclair: Don’t drive ridesharing out of Austin

Third company to join ride-hailing fray in Austin

Third company to join ride-hailing fray in Austin

The Austin City Council will vote on TNC regulations this Thursday.  Uber and Lyft say they cannot operate in Austin under the proposed regulations, but the Dallas based Get Me says it can.

Austin City Council to consider funding for homestead preservation...

City Council to consider funding for homestead preservation...

Austin City Council Survey

Visit the Austin-American Statesman to take a survey about how you think the 10-1 Austin City Council has done in its first year.

Texas State Rep. Naishtat Will Not Run Again

Find out more in the Austin American Statesman.   Rep. Naishtat has served District 49 since the 90's.  The district currently includes Zilker, Barton Hills, Old West Austin, Downtown, Rosedale, Hyde Park, UT, and Pemberton Heights.   The filing deadline is Monday, so we'll know next week who will be running for this seat in the primaries.

Austin Polled on Proposed Uber and Lyft Regs

Two competing polls have determined that in one case 70% of Austinites want the city to require enhanced regulations for Uber and Lyft while in the other case 70% don't want any changed.  Not surprisingly, the wording of the question has a lot to do with results.

I started using Uber in August and Lyft in November.  Both services have repeatedly given me prompt, friendly, and competitively priced service.  Personally, I have always felt safe in Uber and Lyft cars as both the driver's and my whereabouts were being tracked in real time by the ride service app, and because both Uber and Lyft already conduct background checks on their drivers.  

My biggest problem with cabs in the past has been lack of availability.  Considering that Austin has currently issued 750 cab medallions, it should be no surprise that cab service can be quite scare during peak times.  If the city is going to enact regulations that make Uber and Lyft unable to operate here, then something needs to be done in order to provide on demand ride options.   The demand exists, and being able to provide more rides helps to keep addition cars off the road as well as to help reduce drinking and driving.

"Squatty Potty" Ad Is Truly Bizarre

This ad for the "Squatty Potty" is hands down the strangest commercial I have ever seen.  Watch it at your discretion, and be prepared to never think of ice cream the same way again.

I assume that I am doing exactly what the advertisers hoped: sharing this for laughs with friends.  In that sense, the ad is pretty effective.  But, am I going to buy the product?  No.

Update: a surprising number of friends have let me know that they own and love this product.  But, I'm still not buying one.