Yesterday, Uber announced that it is now offering rides in self-driving vehicles for users in San Francisco — an announcement that apparently came as a surprise to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, which has advised the ridesharing service that it is breaking the law by operating this autonomous cars without DMV approval. [More]
ridesharing
“Security As An Afterthought:” 3 Frightening Privacy Claims From Former Uber Staffers
By 12.12.16
Even if you’re a fan of Uber’s service, it’s often difficult to not take issue with the company’s short history of: disregarding taxi regulations, having questionable screening procedures for drivers, taking a casual approach to customer privacy, and forbidding both its employees and users from bringing lawsuits. Now, several former Uber security staffers are pulling back the veil on what they see as problems at the hugely popular ridesharing service. [More]
Toyota Latest Carmaker To Invest In Car-Sharing Company
By 10.28.16
Following in the footsteps of rival carmakers BMW and General Motors, Toyota dipped its tires into the sharing game on Friday, announcing an investment in car-sharing company Getaround. [More]
Former Uber And Lyft Drivers In Austin Sue Over Abrupt Pullout
By 6.10.16
In Austin, TX last month, city voters approved a ballot measure that would require drivers for ride-hailing apps to pass city background checks and be fingerprinted. Both companies immediately pulled out of the city, suddenly leaving thousands of workers, many of whom were driving for their full-time jobs, out of work. Now drivers are suing the companies, alleging that they were owed notice under the WARN Act. [More]
Uber, Lyft Suspend Service In Austin Over Rules Requiring Drivers’ Fingerprints
By 5.9.16
If you’re looking for a ride in Austin you’ll have one less option starting today, after Uber and Lyft suspended operations there over city requirements that include fingerprint-based background checks for all drivers. [More]
Uber Uses Sensors In Drivers’ Phones To Track If They Are Speeding
By 1.26.16
If you complain to Uber about your driver taking you on a wildly circuitous route to your destination — thus resulting in a higher bill — you know the company can check that because you can see your car’s every turn being tracked in real time on the app. But Uber can also use the driver’s smartphone to see if they are driving recklessly. [More]
College President Explains Why He Moonlights As Uber Driver
By 7.29.15
Imagine you’re a student at tiny Oglethorpe University in Atlanta and you’re in need of a lift home because you’re in no shape to drive. So you pull out your smartphone and request an Uber car. When your ride arrives, your driver looks awfully familiar… probably because he’s the school’s president. [More]
Uber Won’t Allow Drivers To Discriminate Against Gay Passengers Even If A State Law Allows It
By 4.16.15
Even as lawmakers in Oklahoma sign off on a ridesharing service bill that removes protections for gay and transgender passengers, Uber has made it clear that changes to state laws will not alter its anti-discrimination policy. [More]
Philadelphia Uber Driver Accused Of Rape
By 3.25.15
A woman in Philadelphia has accused a driver for ridesharing service Uber of raping her and holding her captive for hours in his car after the alleged assault. [More]
UN Women Clarifies: It’s Not Partnering With Uber On Hiring 1 Million Female Drivers
By 3.23.15
Earlier this month, ridesharing service Uber announced what appeared to be a partnership with the United Nations’ UN Women organization aimed at hiring 1 million female drivers by 2020. The news raised concerns because of the number of Uber drivers accused of assaulting female passengers, as well as the company’s loose policy for what constitutes a “hire,” and last week UN Women confirmed that it was not partnering with Uber on this initiative. [More]
Parents Using Uber To Chauffeur Kids To School, Even Though It’s Not Allowed
By 3.11.15
Rather than packing their kids onto a crowded bus in the morning or having to take time out of their morning schedule to get those students to school (or just making them walk, which is what legs were invented for), some parents are looking to ridesharing service Uber to ferry their youngsters around — even though it’s against the company’s own rules. [More]
Amid Passenger Safety Concerns, Uber Promises To Hire 1 Million Women Drivers By 2020
By 3.10.15
While ridesharing service Uber has fans glad to new options for getting around town, headlines about drivers allegedly assaulting and harassing female passengers continues to cast a pall over Uber’s reputation. So today the company announced a plan to hire 1 million female drivers worldwide over the next five years. [More]
Did Lyft Backtrack On $1,000 Bonus Promise For New Drivers Or Is It Simply Overwhelmed By Applicants?
By 3.6.15
In an effort to raise a fleet of drivers for its ride-sharing service, Lyft offered $1,000 bonuses both to new drivers and those referring them last week. But it appears the company might have bitten off more than it can chew after receiving more applications than anticipated, leaving some hopeful drivers without bonuses. [More]
Portland Sues To Get Rid Of Uber Just Days After Car Service Arrives In The City
By 12.9.14
The city of Portland, OR hasn’t just avoided putting out the welcome mat for ridesharing service Uber, no siree. Portland is so set against the company setting up shop there, that only a few days after Uber opened up for business there, the city is suing to ban it from operating. [More]
While City Arrests Uber Drivers, Philly Mayor Comes Out In Support Of Service
By 10.27.14
Here in Philadelphia, the dispute between cab regulators and the Uber ridesharing service has gotten ugly, with the city arresting and fining numerous drivers over the weekend. Given this response to Uber, you’d think Philly Mayor Michael Nutter would be calling for the service to exit the city. But instead he’s calling for a truce. [More]
Police Arrest 4 Uber Drivers In Amsterdam For Being Uber Drivers
By 10.14.14
Ride-sharing services Uber and Lyft encounter legal roadblocks in many of the cities and states where they try to set up business: from San Antonio to Berlin, governments and taxi driver unions alike have done their best to stop Lyft and UberX, services where prescreened amateurs drive around paying customers. Now a local government has made good on one of these threats, arresting four Uber drivers in Amsterdam. [More]
How Do Uber and Lyft Work And Why Should I Even Care?
By 9.18.14
Chances are you’ve heard the term “ridesharing” floating around lately, as rivals Uber and Lyft work themselves into a froth trying to outdo each other. But depending on where you live and what your transportation needs are — maybe you own a car or taxis are readily available on-demand through local services — you could have no clue what these companies actually do. And you might not care, but if you don’t have a car and need to where a car can take you, you should know your options. [More]
Innovations In Ride-Sharing: Lyft Introduces The Opposite Of Surge Pricing
By 3.18.14
One of the controversial features of car-summoning app Uber is that the company modulates supply and demand for rides with surge pricing. Think about all of the times that it’s hard to get a cab: Uber solves this problem by hiking rates, incentivizing drivers to stay on the road, and incentivizing people without money to take the bus. This approach is controversial, and competitor Lyft is seeking attention by doing the exact opposite. [More]
