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imrankhan's profile
Imran Khan
Imran Khan
Imran Khan
Verified account
@imrankhan

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Imran KhanVerified account

@imrankhan

not that one. connecting science & society. 🇬🇧 in 🇺🇸. trustee @nesta_uk, hon @stsucl. ex @wellcometrust @britsciassoc @sciencecampaign. ❤️ = 🏃🏽🧗🏾♟ 👾

Sausalito, CA
Joined June 2008

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    Imran Khan‏Verified account @imrankhan 19 Feb 2020

    I tend to be cynical about the idea of Late Capitalism, but an Uber driver last night told me a story which made my jaw hit the floor. He picked me up, and apologised for the congestion. "You see all these cars, though? They're owned by the same person". (1/9)

    10:13 AM - 19 Feb 2020
    • 8,449 Retweets
    • 18,480 Likes
    • wynn Shawn Connolly Will ATTACK AND DETHRONE GOD SocialismDoneLeftTheBuilding Michael Le Chris Meade #AllBlackLivesMatter sincerity communist ⚢☭ heidijukes 🍄 elri 🍄 zich
    382 replies 8,449 retweets 18,480 likes
      1. New conversation
      2. Imran Khan‏Verified account @imrankhan 19 Feb 2020

        Me: "What do you mean? Aren't they all ubers and lyfts?" Him: "Yeah, but the drivers lease the cars off the same guy. I met him." (2/9)

        7 replies 173 retweets 2,972 likes
        Show this thread
      3. Imran Khan‏Verified account @imrankhan 19 Feb 2020

        "He's from Virginia, and leases out thousands of cars to drivers who for financial or background reasons can't otherwise buy or rent a car that meets, say, Uber's rules." Me: "Oh, ok. Well, that makes sense." Him: "Yeah? Here's the thing, though." (3/9)

        10 replies 179 retweets 2,895 likes
        Show this thread
      4. Imran Khan‏Verified account @imrankhan 19 Feb 2020

        "The set-up means that when these drivers complete a ride, the payment goes direct to the guy who owns the car. The driver sees precisely zero cents until they hit a monthly quota. The money's in the owner's account; he then transfers it once the quota's hit." (4/9)

        15 replies 259 retweets 3,308 likes
        Show this thread
      5. Imran Khan‏Verified account @imrankhan 19 Feb 2020

        "That's why you see these drivers speeding around, cutting corners. They need to rack up these trips or they're not even paying off their lease, let alone making money". Me: "What?! But I thought the margins for uber drivers is low anyway. How is this worth it for them?" (5/9)

        3 replies 201 retweets 3,346 likes
        Show this thread
      6. Imran Khan‏Verified account @imrankhan 19 Feb 2020

        Him: "Oh. Well being an uber driver isn't their main job. They might work a 9-5, but not own a car that lets them get to that job. By leasing this uber car, it gives them transportation, right?" (6/9)

        3 replies 188 retweets 3,060 likes
        Show this thread
      7. Imran Khan‏Verified account @imrankhan 19 Feb 2020

        "So they wake up, complete a few rides before work, a few after. More on the weekend, obviously. If they're quick, they can complete enough rides to make their quota for the month and make some money. But they're on a real knife-edge..." (7/9)

        3 replies 167 retweets 3,062 likes
        Show this thread
      8. Imran Khan‏Verified account @imrankhan 19 Feb 2020

        "If they don't go quick and do enough rides, they fall behind on those lease payments and lose access to the car that gets them to their main job which actually pays their rent and food and essentials, right?" (8/9)

        5 replies 209 retweets 3,267 likes
        Show this thread
      9. Imran Khan‏Verified account @imrankhan 19 Feb 2020

        "But if they go too quick, and get a speeding ticket or their driving makes their Uber customer rating drop below 4.5, then they lose access to the car too. It's a real bind. You can see them everywhere, though. Look, there's another two." (9/9) Me, still in the back:pic.twitter.com/ylwn3qIYEY

        33 replies 199 retweets 5,011 likes
        Show this thread
      10. Imran Khan‏Verified account @imrankhan 20 Feb 2020

        There's been a few types of response to this 1) I'm making the whole thing up! ➡️ The whole convo was about 10 mins, so admittedly I was paraphrasing rather than verbatim, but I didn't introduce any elements, & don't think I missed anything crucial.

        25 replies 61 retweets 2,463 likes
        Show this thread
      11. Imran Khan‏Verified account @imrankhan 20 Feb 2020

        I'm also not that creative, and am currently at the National Academies of Science for an event discussing online misinformation, so take from that what you will.

        5 replies 62 retweets 2,925 likes
        Show this thread
      12. Imran Khan‏Verified account @imrankhan 20 Feb 2020

        2) the uber driver made it up ➡️ Possibly. But a number of people in the thread claim to have heard similar stories, in a variety of global cities, and some posted links to Uber schemes accomplishing the same goal.

        28 replies 55 retweets 2,165 likes
        Show this thread
      13. Imran Khan‏Verified account @imrankhan 20 Feb 2020

        3) Uber is evil, or the Virginia guy is evil ➡️ Think this is missing the point. Water flows downhill; people and companies respond to incentives. 4) What's the problem? It's a service, they're free to choose or do it themselves ➡️ We may have different definitions of freedom...

        21 replies 102 retweets 2,904 likes
        Show this thread
      14. Imran Khan‏Verified account @imrankhan 20 Feb 2020

        Capitalism should create freedom, but these drivers clearly aren't free. & capital isn't as accessible or frictionless or socially mobile as you think, if you're arguing the drivers could just theoretically set up a leasing business so the outcome is therefore 'fair'

        50 replies 208 retweets 3,014 likes
        Show this thread
      15. Imran Khan‏Verified account @imrankhan 20 Feb 2020

        5) Where was this? ➡️ DC! I was getting a late-night cab from the airport to my hotel. I probably wouldn't have done that back home in London, so some commenters are right that better public transport is part of the answer, to reduce the incentives.

        27 replies 71 retweets 2,115 likes
        Show this thread
      16. Imran Khan‏Verified account @imrankhan 20 Feb 2020

        6) More info on how the 'fleet partner' leasing thing works, via @JMBooyahhttps://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/johanabhuiyan/ubers-fleet-partnerships-might-be-undercutting-ubers-promise …

        61 replies 263 retweets 1,872 likes
        Show this thread
      17. End of conversation

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