The internet promised to revolutionise how we get around, delivering a modern, efficient, and affordable break from the old ways. But did the revolution simply bring an unstable, exploitative gig economy, offering the illusion of flexibility with almost zero protections?

Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not.

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Helping us look at how technology disrupted taxis is Rod Barton, a former Victorian Member of Parliament and founder of the Transport Matters Party.

https://rodbarton.com.auhttps://linkedin.com/in/rod-barton https://facebook.com/RodBarton08

In this episode, Rod joins us to explore the impact of the internet on the Victorian taxi industry and the wider gig economy, the challenges faced by traditional taxi services as they compete with rideshare apps, the regulatory environment, and safety concerns in rideshare services.

We also look at the rights of gig economy workers, the need for better protections, and the importance of government regulation in ensuring fair practices in the taxi industry and beyond.

00:00 The Impact of the Internet on the Taxi Industry

03:01 The Taxi Industry Before Uber

05:52 Regulations and Challenges in the Taxi Industry

08:57 Safety and Insurance in Rideshare Services

12:13 The Gig Economy and Worker Rights

15:05 Customer Service in the Age of Rideshare

17:50 The Future of the Gig Economy

21:00 The Role of Government in Regulating the Industry

23:55 The Path Forward for Taxi and Rideshare Services

taxi industry, rideshare, Uber, gig economy, worker rights, exploitation, regulations, ridesharing, customer service, government policy, transport industry, class action