We have a small one, and we're very lucky to have been able to pull it together as our families are distant.
It took some dedicated effort to connect with other parents during the daycare phase, which has paid off in the kindergarten phase. Our daycare had a playground close to it that many kids / parents would frequent after daycare ended. I'd pick my higher social battery days and then make small talk.
Talk about the kids, talk about the daycare, then talk about what other activities you're planning for the kid(s) (gymnastics, tee ball, swimming, w/e) and see if other parents have interest in their kids doing the same. Having activities where the children see the same faces is great for their engagement - and great for you seeing the same parents.
This has turned in to a few close parent friends that have been able to help in a pinch.
Why would the average rider choose to spend 2x the fare when other options exist? It would take the coordination of every driver to only drive for your hypothetical service and refuse all other fares. A la, an industry wide strike of sorts. And those that break from the group will rake it in from the pent up rider demand.
HOVR already exists to try something different, where the driver's pay a flat rate subscription to the company and all of the rider's fare goes to the driver. Driver availability is... Sparse at best.
I must disagree. Hearing the original for the first time and it tops out over my nostalgia for the cover.