If you want to start a service like the one mentioned in the OP you would be competing with uber, lyft and a number of copycat services that exist but you've never heard of (and they do exist, believe it or not). Uber/Lyft both provide drivers with I think $1M in liability coverage in addition to providing some kind of screening services of both drivers and passengers. You can base your HQ anywhere you want, but if you are doing business in the USA you can still be held liable...unless you also want to move to gibraltar. I never had a problem with the fundamental idea; all I said was that eliminating the "middle man" isn't going to be as easy as it sounds. I could do it, but I'm not working for free. If we get some investment capital put together I could have a prototype system running in a few months. No, I don't think it would have been shot full of holes because it's just a new twist on an existing concept - taxi service. All that uber did was make normal people the taxi drivers and provide an app to schedule rides. You don't need to be a visionary to see the potential if that idea is well-executed. That could be spun into a positive.
I'm a big Uber fan... and as you can probably tell, an easy chit-chatter. I talk to everybody... but more importantly, I listen. Most Uber drivers are disgruntled. It must be in the culture, because they all bitch about how much money they are making for Uber. I dunno.... this is not my specialty in any way shape or form.... but the fact is, at least for now, Federal Courts have upheld the argument that websites are merely "websites". This is why the Pirate Bay has so many mirrors in the U.S. This of course may change. And probably will. Who knows. But I will say one thing. If there was an open source ride-share app that provided user feedback and the drivers were getting the lions share of the money.... I would use them. But I'm a risk taker... so whatever. No one's gonna chop up Zandy and put him in a dumpster.... if they do, they are one mean mother f****cker. This is a good idea. Someone needs to make a run with it. Just like the founders of Pirates Bay did with content.