What is "peer-to-peer ridesharing"?

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Ridesharing is to share a Taxi with another passenger. But I failed to get "peer-to-peer".

Context:

Lyft
abstract:
Lyft is a privately held, San Francisco–based company whose mobile-phone application facilitates peer-to-peer ridesharing by enabling passengers who need a ride to request one from drivers who have a car. Unlike traditional taxis, Lyft drivers do not charge "fares" but receive "donations" from their passengers.

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Type: Question • Score: 3 • Views: 1,745 • Replies: 20

[+4] - maxdancona - 08/11/2015The term peer-to-peer is very recent. It was invented in the 1990s to describe software like Napster, where individuals could connect and share files without a central server controlling the...

View best answer, chosen by oristarA

@oristarA,

oristarA wrote:

Ridesharing is to share a Taxi with another passenger.

ridesharing is not the same as sharing a ride

1 Reply

@ehBeth,

ehBeth wrote:

oristarA wrote:

Ridesharing is to share a Taxi with another passenger.

ridesharing is not the same as sharing a ride

Well, thanks.
But a good answer is usually not to deny, rather, a good teacher offers constructive opinions.

1 Reply

@oristarA,

Here, "peer-to-peer" refers to a certain amount of decentralization in the way Lyft functions as a ridesharing business.

1 Reply

@oristarA,

1. I am not your teacher.

2. If you were a student, this would be your opportunity to formulate a good question.

Goodbye.

0 Replies

@InfraBlue,

InfraBlue wrote:

Here, "peer-to-peer" refers to a certain amount of decentralization in the way Lyft functions as a ridesharing business.

Thanks.
What does "de/centralization" mean here?

2 Replies

@oristarA,

Your peers are your equals; not necessarily friends.
You can accept/share rides in each other's vehicles. That's peer-to-peer ridesharing.

0 Replies

@oristarA,

Quote:

What does "de/centralization" mean here?

A taxi firm has a central control.
This arrangement doesn't, presumably.
So it's decentralised.

0 Replies

@oristarA,

Peer-to-peer ride sharing is a new idea where a Man registers online to be an available taxi - no tax. The person calls this peer (or member) on the website and they give a ride for cheaper than a taxi.

The driver gets paid for giving a ride so it is motivation for him,

but also, it is very likely that the website only contacts drivers who are near to the persona calling. So the website contacts the most reliable options first.

That is my assumption.

1 Reply

@GorDie,

GorDie wrote:

Peer-to-peer ride sharing is a new idea where a Man registers online to be an available taxi - no tax. The person calls this peer (or member) on the website and they give a ride for cheaper than a taxi.

The driver gets paid for giving a ride so it is motivation for him,

but also, it is very likely that the website only contacts drivers who are near to the persona calling. So the website contacts the most reliable options first.

That is my assumption.

Looks to the passenger (who calls the driver online) is peer (one), and the driver is peer (two). This relationship is called peer-to-peer, like user-to-user.

Am I on the right track?

2 Replies

@oristarA,

The term peer-to-peer is very recent. It was invented in the 1990s to describe software like Napster, where individuals could connect and share files without a central server controlling the transfer.

Peer to peer ridesharing means that two individual people, one with a a car, can connect and share a ride without a taxi-service controlling the interaction.

(Personally I don't think the metaphor is a good one... since in fact there are central companies organizing the transfer, but since "peer-to-peer" is a cool new word, some marketer thought it would be a good way to describe their product)

0 Replies

@oristarA,

That is how I interpreted it. I do not actually know if that is what peer-to-peer ridesharing is. But that is what I assume it is.

Yes. You interpreted by answer correctly.

Peer-to-peer ridesharing, may simply be riding with colleagues or friends.*

2 Replies

@GorDie,

Quote:

Peer-to-peer ridesharing, may simply be riding with colleagues or friends.*

Which is what I already said.

1 Reply

@McTag,

McTag wrote:

Quote:
Peer-to-peer ridesharing, may simply be riding with colleagues or friends.*

Which is what I already said.

But a driver here seems to be an independent contractor with no colleagues.
And a taxi often takes a passenger, not two.

1 Reply

@oristarA,

Failed to understand your objection.

By the way, I've been in a taxi with two other unconnected people. in NYC.
The driver, Korean I think, was competing with the bus service.

1 Reply

@GorDie,

GorDie wrote:

Peer-to-peer ridesharing, may simply be riding with colleagues or friends.*

it is a form of business transaction. ridesharing is not free, and is not between colleagues/friends.

0 Replies

@McTag,

peer-to-peer ridesharing does not have unconnected passengers in the same trip.

1 Reply

@ehBeth,

Oh yeah?
Maybe in unfriendly places.

1 Reply

With all due respect, I believe that my answer was the best one provided and deserves the Selected Answer ribbon.

Thank You for your consideration.

0 Replies

@McTag,

That's not how the peer-to-peer ridesharing business plan works.

It is not the same as a taxi business where additional passengers can be added to multiple locations.

1 Reply

What is "peer-to-peer ridesharing"?

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