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1、Specialreport:TechnologyandgeographyTheEconomistOct27th2012
2、fromtheprinteditionAsenseofplaceGeographymattersasmuchasever,despitethedigitalrevolution,saysPatrickLaneTHEREWASSOMETHINGoddabouttheblackcaratthejunctionofSutterandHydeStreets.Itwasanordinarysaloon.Itswindowswereclear,anditlookedin
3、goodcondition.Andyet,asthelightschangedandthecarpulledawayintothebrightSanFranciscomorning,aquestionremained.Whywasitsportingaluxuriantpinkmoustacheatitsfront?ThemoustacheisthetrademarkofLyft,aride-sharingservicethatbeganinthecitythissummer.Itsdriversareprivateindividualswho,ineffect,rentou
4、tseatsintheircarsforafewdollarsatime.Lyft’scutis20%.Itworksthroughasmartphoneapp.Whenyouregisterasacustomer,yousupplyyourphonenumberandcredit-carddetails.Whenyouwantaride,youopentheappandseeamapwiththelocationsofthenearestmoustachioedmotors.Youtaptorequestaride,andtheappshowsyouyourdriver’s
5、name,hisratingbypastpassengers(outoffivestars)andphotosofhimandhiscar.Hewillprobablygreetyouwithafriendlyfist-bump.Afterwardsyouratehimandpaythroughtheapp.Heratesyou,too,soifyouarepoorcompanyyoumaynotgetanotherLyft.SothatLyftcarscanavoidbeingclassedastaxis,withalltheattendantregulation,tech
6、nicallythedriversdonotcharge“fares”butreceive“donations”fromtheirpassengers.Youmayconsiderthatdistinctiontoofinetosurvivelegalscrutiny:aregulatorhassentLyftandtworivals,SideCarandTickengo,“ceaseanddesist”letters.ButJohnZimmer,chiefexecutiveofZimride,thefirmthatrunsLyft,seemsconfidentthatitw
7、ill.MrZimmerexplainsthatZimride,whichalsorunscommutingandinter-citycarpools,isnamednotafterhimbutafterZimbabwe,wherehisco-founder,LoganGreen,sawpeoplesharingminibuses.YoumightalsoaskwhetherpeoplewillbewillingtoacceptLyftsfromstrangers,ortoletstrangersintotheircars.ButMrZimmersaystheratingsy
8、stemallowsbothsidestoestablishareputationasfriendlyandtrustworthy.Adriveraveraginglessthan4.5starswillbedropped.Thecompanyvetspotentialdriverscarefully,requiringhigherstandards(forexample,oncriminalrecords)thansometaxicompanies.Lyfthasalsoarrangedinsuran
