SafeNiki

Using a mobile-phone computerized system, a person desiring a ride finds a driver going to his/her destination, has an empty seat, and has fulfilled the safety requirements to be part of the system.

"SafeNiki" is just the development name of a High-tech For-profit Ride-sharing concept being developed by Marshall Fritz and his creativity associates. The public name will be far more meaningful and attractive.

August 6, 2008 comment draft 2.1

What are the benefits of SafeNiki?

RIDER-----The SafeNiki rider saves money on gas, car maintenance, parking, and the frustrations of traffic congestion. Plus the time lost looking for parking The rider can read, listen to an Ipod, watch a DVD, doze, or in some situations, play bridge while commuting. Some families will dispense with the second car.

The ride sharing may will become a way to meet new friends who are "neighbors-in-transit," sort of replacing the front porch so popular for meeting neighbors before air conditioning brought us inside.

DRIVER------The SafeNiki driver earns money to pay for gas, a new car or van, and have spending money left over. A driver might earn $5,000-20,000 per year.

EVERYBODY----

Lower gas prices
Faster commute due to reduced traffic congestion during rush hour
Less traffic congestion to/from big sporting events
Reduced air pollution
Reduced dependence on foreign oil
Fewer traffic accidents, injuries, and deaths
Fewer drunk drivers

ENTREPRENEUR-----If you start this business in your state, you'll have a lot of fun doing something completely new----Ala Amazon, PayPal, Ebay, etc. Of course, it has extreme risk but high profit potential for those who succeed.

Has SafeNiki been tried anywhere?

No.

It's a brand new idea that needs refinement before it is implemented. A somewhat similar system in England is in the development phase, www.Texxi.com In Seattle a system is being tested for commuters, www.ReadySetGoose.com. Also look at http://www.eRideShare.com for a system being developed by Steven Schoeffler.

Why would anybody oppose SafeNiki?

Some people benefit from today's traffic mess.

Taxi drivers will not want private cars to be competitors.
Car companies don't want car sales to go down. Insurance companies won't like reduced premiums.
Bus drivers and transit operators want to keep their riders, not lose them to SafeNiki drivers, and their unions can be expected to fight the legalization of high-tech for-profit ride-sharing.
And some people actually dislike others having freedom of movement and prefer them to be channeled into "mass transit."

All these people have money to support politicians who will make SafeNiki illegal even though the benefits are staggeringly huge. Some will keep proposing "light rail" and other systems that need perpetual tax-payer subsidy.

Someday, some city will pride itself for being

"Home of the First SafeNiki"

Who will make a financial profit when SafeNiki is implemented?

We are just beginning to identify those industries. Clearly, mobile phone companies will be handling more traffic. And car rental firms will doubtless see an increase.

Money today used for cars and fuel that will be saved by consumers will be spent in home buying, furniture, travel, dining out, and other consumer products.

Airlines will definitely see more customers as consumers discover they can use SafeNiki at their location rather than renting a car.

Of course, the entrepreneur and venture capitalists of a successful SafeNiki operation may make quite a tidy profit. Good for them!!!

Three more questions...