Uber's bumpy road to world domination
Uber is good at two things: running a taxi service and getting on regulators' nerves. The car service's entire history has been a series of back and forth battles between it and the cities that it's trying to operate in, with Uber frequently ignoring regulations when launching in a new location. For the most part, that strategy has been successful. Major cities have reworked their taxi laws to account for Uber, as well as other services like it. But for every success, Uber seems to run into a new hurdle in another city or with another type of service. This StoryStream follows our coverage of Uber's ongoing legal struggles.
Major Updates
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Meet Uber's first self-driving car
Uber has finally released the first official photo of the self-driving cars that it is testing on the streets of Pittsburgh, almost a year to the day since reporters in that city first spotted an earlier prototype. The car, a hybrid Ford Fusion, is collecting mapping data as well as testing its self-driving capabilities, and is equipped with "radars, laser scanners, and high resolution cameras to map details of the environment," Uber says in a blog post. But as it collects data, a trained...
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Uber forced to suspend motorbike taxi service in Bangkok
Uber is suspending its motorbike service in Bangkok, Reuters reports, after the Thai government determined that it conflicts with existing taxi services. Nunthapong Cherdchoo, a senior official in Thailand's transport ministry, told Reuters this week that the government had ordered both Uber and Grab Bike to suspend their services. Uber later confirmed that it is "temporarily" halting its UberMoto service in a blog post published Tuesday.
UberMoto launched in Bangkok as a pilot program three...
UberMoto a no-go -
Arianna Huffington joins Uber's board of directors
Don't be surprised if your next Uber driver lectures you about the "miracle of sleep" or has a "nap pod" installed in the back of their car. Uber announced Wednesday that media mogul, author, and sleep advocate Arianna Huffington has joined its board of directors — a move that is already prompting backlash from some of the ride-sharing company's critics.
In a blog post today, Uber CEO Travis Kalanick praised Huffington as a successful entrepreneur and someone who's "emotional intelligence"...
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Uber drivers can now find the cheapest gas stations within the app
Uber drivers looking for that coveted $2.25-gallon of gas can now conduct their search from within the ride-hail company's app. Uber announced Tuesday a new feature for its driver-facing app called Fuel Finder, which drivers can use to search gas prices nearest to them. The update will be available to all drivers in the US by the end of the week.
Not only will the app show drivers where the cheapest gas prices are, it will also provide step-by-step, GPS-enabled directions to those stations....
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Uber drivers in California join with Teamsters Union to fight for better benefits
Not long after Uber settled its two worker misclassification lawsuits in California and Massachusetts, contractors are still putting pressure on the ride-hailing behemoth. Drivers in California are partnering with the Teamsters Union to create the App-Based Drivers Association (ABDA), a group that will push Uber to provide better wages and working conditions and give the contractors a stronger voice.
Giving drivers a stronger voice -
You should probably tip your Uber driver from now on
As part of the landmark $100 million settlement agreed to last night, Uber says drivers will now be allowed to ask for tips. Which means everyone, even you, will now have to tip their drivers. Forever. Probably in cash, since there's no way to do it in the app.
A lot of people liked Uber because it eliminated all the ambiguity in financial transactions -
Uber drivers lost the battle, but they may still win the war
In the end, the price tag to maintain the status quo on Uber's gig economy was $100 million. That may seem like a lot, but to Uber it's a paltry amount, representing only 1 percent of its total $10 billion war chest. Last night, the ride-hail giant agreed to cough up $84 million to settle two worker misclassification lawsuits in California and Massachusetts, as well as another $16 million if the company eventually goes public. In exchange, Uber gets to keep its business model — drivers are...
The ride-hail giant's legal future remains murky -
Uber forced to suspend surge pricing in Delhi
The government of Delhi has cracked down on surge pricing from Uber and local ride-hailing company Ola, forcing the startups to suspend the feature across the Indian city of nearly 10 million people. In a series of tweets posted this week, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal sharply criticized surge pricing, which uses algorithms to raise fares when demand for taxis is high. Kejriwal described the practice as "highway robbery," and said that "strict action" would be taken against drivers who...
Daylight robbery -
Uber's latest changes make trips easier for deaf drivers and their passengers
Alicia Johnson has been driving for Uber for almost a year, first in California and now in her new home of Washington, DC, but because she was deaf it was never an easy task. Johnson, 25, would often miss ride notifications that came through her phone via text because she couldn't hear the ding, or find herself forced to awkwardly inform riders that she couldn't hear what they were trying to tell her. So when Uber recently rolled out some new features on its app just for deaf drivers, she was...
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Uber joins forces with former New York City Council foe to promote carpooling
Uber says each week 100,000 New Yorkers are using UberPool, in which riders pay discounted fares to share a car with other passengers. That's double the number of customers Uber said were using its carpooling service just six months ago. It represents a rapid expansion of a feature that Uber says could be the future of its business, even as some critics say it applies further pressure on struggling drivers.
The company unveiled the new numbers in conjunction with an announcement about a...
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Uber received over 400 data requests from US law enforcement in just six months
Uber processed 415 data requests on its riders and drivers from US law enforcement agencies in the last six months of 2015, according to the ride-hail company's first-ever transparency report released Tuesday. Most, if not all, of those requests pertained to criminal investigations, such as cases of fraud, theft, or assault. Uber received 309 requests for rider information and 205 for drivers. The company says it "fully complied" with almost 32 percent of those requests, "partially complied"...
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Uber poaches a top Ford engineer to help build self-driving cars
Add Ford to the list of companies that are being pillaged by Uber in its quest to excel in the hyper-competitive world of self-driving cars. Sherif Marakby, director of global electronics and engineering at Ford, is joining Uber as vice president of global vehicle programs, the ride-hail company told The Verge Thursday. Marakby will relocate from Detroit to Pittsburgh, where Uber is busy expanding its Advanced Technologies Center.
In Pittsburgh, Marakby will oversee "manufacturer strategy...
Self-driving technology can help prevent these tragedies as well as improve the quality of life in cities. -
Lyft users love Uber, but it's not a two-way street
Uber and Lyft are locked in a high-stakes battle for market share. But new data suggests that Lyft still has an uphill climb in its quest to compete on a level playing field with its larger, richer rival.
About three-fourths of Lyft users also hail rides with Uber, but only a little more than a quarter of Uber users also take trips with Lyft, according to four months of app data analyzed by Survey Monkey. Also Uber is outpacing Lyft in the average number of daily downloads of its app,...
Lyft users lack loyalty -
Uber is starting to raise fares in some small and mid-sized cities
Uber is raising its fares 10 percent in Pittsburgh, the city where the company is currently building a gigantic facility to build and test self-driving cars. The story was first reported by a reporter from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, who also tweeted that Uber cited the need for drivers to earn more money in its explanation to customers. A week before, it raised fares in a handful of smaller cities, like Louisville, Kentucky, Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Ventura and Fresno, both in...
Pittsburgh, Fresno, Fayetteville, to name a few -
Uber is trading its email support service for in-app features
Say goodbye to [email protected], the email address used by drivers and passengers to report everything from lost bags to fishy-looking fares to fisticuffs spurred by lost bags or fishy-looking fares. The company is mothballing the email address it has used for six years, and replacing it with a new customer service feature that can be found within the app itself.
Uber has come under fire recently for its customer response operations. -
Taxi-hailing app Curb to relaunch with a new attack plan against Uber
Curb, the app formerly known as Taxi Magic, is getting a fresh coat of paint and some unique features. The relaunch comes under its new owner, Verifone Systems, a public company based in San Jose that operates the entertainment and payment systems in about half of New York City's yellow and green taxis. When it goes live next month, Curb will allow users to hail and pay for a metered taxi ride, as well as — for the first time ever — book a yellow cab in advance. The app is re-launching in...
Cabs can't get their act together -
Uber accuses Indian rival Ola of booking 400,000 fake rides
In a classic case of chickens coming home to roost, Uber is suing its ride-hail rival Ola, claiming the Indian company created fake account to book, and then cancel, hundreds of thousands of rides. According to Bloomberg, Uber filed the lawsuit in the High Court of Delhi for injunction and damages, alleging that Ola created 90,000 fake Uber accounts using falsified phone numbers, which it used to book over 400,000 rides. The rides were ultimately canceled, which Uber claims was a move to...
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Uber will pay hackers up to $10,000 to find bugs in its system
Uber wants to recruit a few good "white hat" hackers to comb through its code for weaknesses that could expose drivers and riders personal information. In May, the company says it will hold a bug bounty, in which self-described "security researchers" can get big bucks for finding flaws in Uber's system. Small bugs will net a few thousand dollars, but major security flaws could earn a hacker up to $10,000 — plus compounding interest if they stay loyal to Uber.
recognizing the value of hackers -
Uber has reportedly been shopping for a fleet of self-driving cars in Germany
Uber is sniffing around the German car market in search of a fleet of autonomous vehicles, according to Reuters. It is unclear whether the ride-hail company wants to purchase cars that are already self-driving or traditional cars with some autonomous features. Many German automakers, including Volkswagen's Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW, are working on their own autonomous vehicles.
claims of being just a tech company would become moot -
Uber is now making one-way trips across the US-Mexico border
Just in time for spring break, Uber announced today that it would start taking passengers across the US-Mexico border for the very first time, from San Diego to Tijuana. But getting back will be trickier, thanks to the regulations that govern ride-hail companies like Uber.
Before, ride-sharing passengers would have to take a car to the border, get out, cross into Mexico, and then call another car to take them into Tijuana or somewhere on the Baja peninsula. Now riders equipped with the...
Don't forger your passport -
Uber and Lyft just got a big boost from the public transportation world
For years, ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft have claimed that one of their primary goals was to reduce the number of cars on the road. Uber CEO Travis Kalanick has gone a step further, saying he wants to "make car ownership a thing of the past." This week, new research from a leading transportation organization appears to back that up. Compared to people who haven't used any shared modes of travel beyond public transportation, people who use Uber and Lyft own nearly half a car less —...
a better body by using ridesourcing -
Uber's new ‘Family Profiles' lets one person pay for up to 10 riders
Cellular companies have the "family plan," and now Uber has "family profiles," in which one person can pay for rides for up 10 family members, friends, or coworkers. The company announced Wednesday that it would be testing the new payment system in Atlanta, Dallas, and Phoenix. The idea came from feedback from riders who wanted a way to consolidate trip payments under one account, Uber says.
The person who wants to be responsible for paying for all those rides sends invites through the app...
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Uber's standalone food delivery app will launch in 12 more cities
UberEats, the rideshare company's standalone food delivery app, is rolling out in a dozen more cities over the next several weeks. Starting today, the app is live in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and Houston. And in the coming weeks, it will be available in New York City, Washington, DC, Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, Melbourne, Paris, and Seattle. The app is Uber's latest foray into delivery and logistics, as it looks to expand beyond its core service of for-hire vehicle rides.
Previously,...
Major expansion of Uber's food delivery experiment -
Uber has a secret 800 number for emergencies
Uber has an emergency phone number for passengers and drivers to get in touch with a human employee at the ride-hail company, according to a report in Inc. Thursday. The number, which has been operational since October, is only available in 22 cities and is only intended for non-911 related emergencies. The revelation comes after Uber faced questions about a "panic button" in the wake of a deadly shooting in Kalamazoo, Michigan by an Uber driver last month.
Uber has panic buttons in some...
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Uber is using its app to troll local politicians again
Florida residents who open the Uber app today won't see the typical estimated time to summon a car, but rather a message that reads "tap to vote for Uber." This leads to a second message: "Legislation currently blocked in the Florida Senate would allow all Floridians access to Uber." Users are then urged to register their support (green checkmark) or opposition (red x) to that statement.
This brings up a third, more existential message. "It's not hard to hold an up or down vote," it reads....
Uber is using the Florida senator's own words against him -
Uber says demand in New York City is up 30 percent since prices were cut
Uber has taken a lot of flack from some of its drivers since it lowered fares in January, but the ride-hail company argues that the cheaper rides are having the desired effect. In New York City, for example, where fares were cut 15 percent on January 28th, demand for uberX rides in some neighborhoods has risen over 50 percent in the three weeks since the cut, compared to the previous three weeks, the company says. Trips in Soundview in the Bronx and Jamaica in Queens, both working-class...
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Uber is expanding its self-driving research operations in Pittsburgh
Uber announced Tuesday that it is opening a new Advanced Technologies Center in Pittsburgh, where its autonomous vehicle research operations are headquartered. The company will renovate an old locomotive roundhouse at the LTV Coke Works site in Hazelwood, along the Monongahela River, which was once a symbol of this Rust Belt city's heyday. The company will build temporary roadways to test self-driving cars as part of its expansion, as well as housing and park space.
This is the first major...
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Uber defends driver screening in wake of Kalamazoo mass shooting
Jason Dalton, the Uber driver who shot and killed six people and injured two in Kalamazoo, Michigan Saturday had a 4.73 driver rating and had completed over 100 trips since being cleared by the ride-hail company's screening process less than a month ago, Uber said Monday.
Dalton, 45, reportedly confessed to the killings today. The shooting spree allegedly took place while Dalton was picking up and dropping off passengers for Uber. In a conference call with reporters Monday, Uber officials...
Overall his rating was good -
You thought Uber was already everywhere, but just wait
Uber's first five years of existence were defined by its fights with government regulators. Now that it has established itself as a semi-legit and widely popular mode of travel, the company's CEO says its next move will be to play nice with its former municipal foes.
"You have to look at things at the city level," Travis Kalanick said during a "fireside chat" at Vancouver's Launch Academy hub, according to a report from BetaKit. "For transportation, we're looking at what kinds of cars are in...
It's so much about getting people and cars around the city as fast as possible -
Uber drivers say that driving for Uber kind of sucks
Last December, Uber released a survey that found that 81 percent of its drivers said they were "satisfied with the overall experience" of driving for Uber. That number seemed suspect, coming at a time when Uber's rapid growth was bringing the company into increasing conflict with its workforce of independent contractors. Now a new survey by Harry Campbell, an Uber driver known for his "Rideshare Guy" podcast and blog, suggests that less than half of drivers are happy about driving for Uber.
C...
There hasn't been a whole lot of loyalty on either side -
Uber limits drivers in NYC to 12 hour shifts
Uber drivers in New York City who drive longer than 12 hours at a time will risk deactivation, under a new policy being adopted by the ride-hail company. In a letter to the city's Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) Thursday, Uber says that drivers who are on the road longer than 12 hours will be temporarily deactivated. If they do it again soon after being reactivated, they will be permanently removed from the platform.
Previously Uber had been tracking drivers' hours on a weekly basis....
Dangerously long shifts are becoming commonplace -
Uber agrees to its largest settlement ever, but your cut will be pitifully small
Uber is seeking to settle two class-action lawsuits that allege the ride-hail company improperly marketed its safety record to passengers by charging them a flat fee for "safe rides." It says it will pay $28.5 million to around 25 million passengers who paid "safe ride fee," which will amount to less than a dollar per passenger. Still, if approved by a judge, the settlement would be the largest in the San Francisco-based company's six-year history.
Uber has long-touted its safety record as...
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Uber shuts down Paris service to protest new regulations
Uber is suspending its service in Paris today to support an ongoing driver protest against new regulations aimed at cracking down on ride-hailing apps in France. The company's French employees are joining a demonstration organized by a group of full-time chauffeurs who have been protesting against the government for five days now.
At issue is a set of new regulations introduced after taxi unions staged a nationwide strike last month, calling for an end to Uber and other non-taxi chauffeur...
This is going to last, they won't let it go. -
The dark side to Uber’s unstoppable cash grab
Uber's insane fundraising streak looks to get even more insane, as the New York Times is reporting that a new fund for super wealthy investors to bet on Uber's continued growth and success has recently cropped up. But even as cash continues to rain down on Silicon Valley's biggest unicorn, the deluge could spell trouble for Uber on a number of fronts.
Take the goddamn company public -
Uber CEO appears to respond to outraged drivers on Facebook
Travis Kalanick, Uber's pugnacious founder and CEO, took to Facebook a few hours ago to post a five-month-old blog post about the improving quality of life of uberX drivers in New York City. Three hours before, a group called the Uber Drivers Network posted an open letter to Kalanick and his investors on Medium, taking their beef with the company's recent fare cuts directly to the man in charge.
Without drivers on the platform, it'll be of no value -
‘Shame on Uber’: hundreds of drivers demand more pay at NYC protest
Hundreds of New York City Uber drivers staged an angry protest in front of the ride-hail company's offices in Long Island City, Queens, Monday in response to the recent 15 percent fare reduction. Organizers called on drivers to go on strike to shutdown the app-based service in one of its most profitable cities. But with less than 1 percent of Uber's 35,000-plus total driver workforce in attendance, the likelihood of a strike affecting Uber's service in New York seemed remote.
I'm not the same driver I used to be -
French taxi drivers clash with police in anti-Uber strike
French taxi unions have once again staged a nationwide strike, shutting down roadways across Paris in a protest against ride-hailing companies like Uber. Thousands of taxi drivers are expected to participate in demonstrations across Paris today, disrupting traffic to and from the French capital's two major airports. Protesters burned tires at a major thoroughfare on the western edge of Paris, where police used tear gas to disperse some, and two taxi drivers were injured after a shuttle bus...
Déja vu -
The lawsuit that could change Uber forever has a trial date
A California judge set a trial date for the class action lawsuit challenging the way Uber classifies its drivers as independent contractors. Judge Edward M. Chen ruled that the trial will start June 20t, 2016, and will last five weeks. The case, O'Co
This is not just about new digital platforms. -
Uber pulls out of three German cities
On Friday, citing a harsh regulatory environment, Uber announced it had pulled out of three German cities: Hamburg (population 1.7 million); Frankfurt (687,000); and Dusseldorf (593,000). The news came almost nine months after a judge in Frank
Uber has hit a wall in Germany -
Uber driver found guilty of raping female passenger in India
An Uber driver in India has been found guilty of kidnapping and raping a female passenger in Delhi last year. The driver, Shiv Kumar Yadav, is expected to be sentenced on Friday, and faces life in prison. As the Associated Press reports, prosecutors say they will push for the maximum sentence.
Yadav was arrested in December 2014, after a 26-year-old woman said he raped her on her ride home. The incident led to a temporary ban against the taxi-hailing company in Delhi, and sparked protests...
Chauffeur faces life in prison -
Even Uber drivers are now protesting against Uber in France
A group of Uber drivers staged a protest outside the company's Paris office Friday morning over a recent reduction in rates across the French capital. As the French newspaper L'Express reports, the group of about 50 chauffeurs were demonstrating against a 20 percent fare reduction for the company's UberX service and a 25 percent cut for UberPool, which went into effect today. The protesters were eventually dispersed by police in riot gear.
Uber introduced the rate cut in response to recent...
Drivers protest against 20% fare reduction -
Indian woman who sued Uber after alleged rape voluntarily ends lawsuit
The 25-year-old Indian woman who sued Uber in January after accusing one of the company's drivers of raping her has voluntarily ended the suit. According to Reuters, no details were released about how the case was settled, and neither Uber nor the woman have released statements about the case.
Uber was briefly banned in Delhi after the accusations
The unnamed passenger stepped forward last December to name 32-year-old Shiv Kumar Yadav as the driver who allegedly raped and beat her while she...
Uber was briefly banned in Delhi after the accusations -
Uber suspends low-cost service in France following government crackdown
Uber today announced the suspension of its low-cost UberPop service in France, amid heightening tensions with taxi unions and French authorities. In a blog post published today, the company said the service will be officially suspended in France Friday evening, with the option disappearing from the app by 8PM local time.
UberPop, which connects users with non-professional drivers, has come under increased scrutiny from French regulators and taxi unions, who say it gives the San...
UberPop goes dark tonight -
Uber France executives to go on trial over UberPop
Uber France and two company executives will go on trial in September, French prosecutors announced today, on charges related to its UberPop service. Pierre-Dimitri Gore-Coty, Uber's general manager for Western Europe, and Uber France CEO Thibaud Simphal were taken into police custody yesterday in Paris, a few days after French taxi unions staged a nationwide strike in protest against UberPop. As AFP reports, the executives and Uber France have been charged with misleading business practices,...
The crackdown continues -
Uber executives taken into police custody following French taxi strike
Two Uber France executives have been taken into police custody in Paris, French media outlets reported today, as part of an ongoing investigation into the company's low-cost UberPop service. As Le Monde reports, Uber Europe CEO Pierre-Dimitri Gore-Coty and Uber France CEO Thibaud Simphal were both taken into custody Thursday by Paris' judiciary police. French business news channel BFMTV reports that the executives are suspected of "inciting undeclared work."
The interrogations come on the...
The UberPop probe continues -
On the ground with the opposing factions of Paris’ Uber protests
I've barely buckled my seatbelt before my UberPop driver lays some ground rules.
"Just to be clear, you're Amar and I'm Cyril, and we're friends," he says. "So that's what we'll say if we get stopped by the police, okay?"
I agree, and I understand his concern. Yesterday, some UberPop drivers and other private chauffeurs were attacked by unionized taxi drivers who went on strike across France, as part of a massive anti-Uber protest. Striking drivers burned tires, overturned cars, and smashed...
violence was necessary, because the government made it necessary. -
French taxi drivers lock down Paris in huge anti-Uber protest
French taxi drivers today blocked roads to airports and train stations in Paris, as part of a nationwide protest against Uber. Thousands of drivers are expected to participate in today's strike in the French capital and other major cities, where tensions between taxi unions and private car services are running high. Protestors burned tires and turned over cars along major thoroughfares, and there have been reported scuffles between taxi drivers and other chauffeurs. Police in riot gear...
We're not doing this lightly. -
Uber is now lobbying to win your heart
Excited teens packed into an SUV safely make their way to prom. A kind-looking father waits patiently in front of his Toyota Prius for a daughter who comes running out excitedly to greet him. After she jumps happily into his arms, he coos, "Good jump!" A second later, we see a woman helping two 20-somethings get an awkward houseplant into the tight confines of their apartment building. That same woman ends up at band practice later on, driving the same car. Everyone is smiling like we've just...
Hug your driver (if they're your dad) -
Florida says former Uber driver is an employee, threatening its business model
Uber promises big things for its drivers, from plenty of work to flexible hours, and even discounts on vehicles that can be used when drivers aren't on the clock. However one thing that is not promised when someone becomes an Uber driver is the legal consideration of being called an "employee" versus an "independent contractor." Anyone who's worked in a company with both roles knows the difference: the former comes with numerous benefits, including expanded legal protections and maybe even a...
All thanks to a scooter -
Paris court says UberPop can continue operating, for now
An appeals court in Paris this morning declined to ban Uber's low-cost UberPop service, saying the company can continue to offer it until a constitutional court rules on a new law governing chauffeur licenses. The constitutional court is expected to rule in June, and the appeals court will reconvene in September.
UberPop drivers have been working in an ambiguous legal space since December, when a Paris commercial court decided not to ban the service and declined to rule on its legality. Days...
Uber gets a six-month reprieve -
Uber will reportedly pay for commercial driver's licenses to avoid German ban
Uber is no stranger to legal battles, but the tough-negotiating startup appears to be making a rare concession in Germany. The ride-sharing company will pay the government fees for its drivers in the country to obtain commercial driver's licenses, according to a report in German business magazine Wirtschafts Woche. Uber's German chief, Fabien Nestmann, was quoted saying that the company will pay the €100 to €200 cost for a license. He added, "We will also pay the €150 to €200 it would cost...
Company will foot the bill for €100 to €200 licenses -
Thousands of Uber accounts are allegedly being sold on the dark web
Thousands of Uber users account credentials could have been compromised, and are up for sale from unscrupulous sellers. At least two separate vendors on dark web marketplace AlphaBay are hawking active Uber accounts, Motherboard reports. Once purchased, these accounts let buyers order up rides using whatever payment information is on file. Those accounts can also show trip history, email addresses, phone numbers, and location information for people's home and work addresses.
Taking a free ride -
Uber driver arrested on sexual assault charges in Paris
An Uber driver in France has been arrested on charges of sexually assaulting a female passenger outside a nightclub in Paris. As first reported by French daily Le Parisien, the unnamed driver is due to appear before a judge on May 29th and, if convicted, could face up to five years in prison and a fine of €75,000 ($82,000).
Uber has come under increased scrutiny for its safety record in recent months, after one of its chauffeurs in India was arrested on charges of raping a female passenger...
Chauffeur was 'immediately suspended' -
Police raid Uber offices in Paris
French police raided Uber's office in Paris this week, as part of an investigation into its controversial UberPop service. According to French media reports, 25 officers raided Uber's headquarters for six hours on Monday, seizing emails, documents, and smartphones used by Uber drivers.
We see in this raid a disproportionate action. -
Uber adds SOS button in India following alleged rape
Uber today introduced two new features aimed at enhancing safety for passengers in India, where the car service has come under increased scrutiny after a driver allegedly raped a female passenger late last year. The new features, available as part of an in-app update, allow users to share details of their rides with up to five contacts, and to call the police using a new SOS button in case of an emergency.
The new "Send Status" feature is an enhanced version of the ShareMyETA option that has...
An attempt to bolster rider security -
Uber to improve driver screening in Delhi as it looks to resume operations
Uber says that it will take additional steps to screen drivers in Delhi as it petitions the city's government to allow it to resume operations. The new security measures come following the alleged rape of an Uber passenger by one of its drivers, which led to the service being banned under taxi regulations. Uber now says that it will hire a "local team of specially-trained safety experts" to ensure that its drivers aren't using forged documents. It also intends to implement some type of...
A lot of Uber's plans are vague for now -
Uber CEO faces two years in prison for operating illegal taxi service in South Korea
South Korean prosecutors have indicted the founder of Uber, Travis Kalanick, for operating an illegal taxi service in the country. The formal accusation against Kalanick and another man, a local rental car service operator, was made without physical detention. Yonhap News says that violators of the Korean law in question, which stops rental car services from offering paid passenger transport, could face a fine of up to 20 million won ($18,121), or up to two years in jail.
bad korea move -
Uber halting its operations in Portland for 3 months while a deal is worked out
Uber plans to temporarily suspend its operations in Portland, Oregon, after launching there illegally two weeks ago. As first spotted by The Wall Street Journal, the transportation company has agreed to close up shop within the city's confines for three months while Portland makes changes to its private car regulations. As part of the deal, the city will allow ride-sharing companies to operate after April 9th, 2015 if updated regulations are not made, but not until then. Uber says it plans to...
That was quick -
Uber will use biometric scans to improve background checks on drivers
In the wake of high-profile incidents in which passengers were allegedly assaulted by their drivers, Uber said today it would improve background checks using methods including biometric scans. "We are initiating research & development on biometrics and voice verification to build custom tools for enhanced driver screening," the company said in a blog post. "We are also investing in ways to provide riders the instant ability to communicate with us and their loved ones in the event of an...
Best-in-class safety must be a constant quest. -
France to ban UberPop after taxis go on strike
The French government today signaled that Uber's low-cost service, UberPop, will be banned throughout the country as of New Years Day, marking the latest in a series of regulatory setbacks for the company. The news comes as three taxi unions blocked major highways around Paris in protest against Uber and the "unfair competition" it poses. On Friday, a French court ruled that UberPop could continue to operate within Paris — a decision that sparked today's taxi strike — but the interior...
Uber's regulatory problems continue -
California cities sue Uber for misleading customers about driver background checks
Los Angeles and San Francisco are suing ride-sharing startup Uber for making misleading statements and breaking California law, the latest in a series of setbacks for the company. In a statement, the two cities' district attorneys say that Uber misled passengers about the effectiveness of its background checks, misrepresented fees for safety checks and airport tolls, operated in airports without permission, and did not get state approval for the system it used to calculate pricing.
"Uber has...
Lyft settles over similar charges -
Uber banned in Spain, India, and Thailand due to 'illegal' operations
The bad news for Uber just keeps coming, and today there's a trifecta of regulatory rebuffs to the web-based taxi company's drive for international expansion. In Madrid, a judge has ruled that Uber should cease all activities in Spain because its drivers are unregistered and thus act as unfair competition to existing taxi services. Affirming a complaint filed by the Madrid Taxi Association, the judge has explained that his ruling is a practical one, adhering to current laws, rather than a...
Uber's buccaneering expansion meets stern resistance -
Portland, Oregon has sued Uber over last week's illegal launch
It appears the city of Portland, Oregon is very serious about Uber operating its ridesharing service illegally, which it's been doing there since last Friday. Today the city announced that it's filed a lawsuit against the company, saying it's in violation of its rules and regulations, and asking for the company to immediately cease and desist its operations there.
That was quick -
Uber banned in Indian capital after alleged rape of female passenger
The Delhi government banned Uber today, after one of the company's taxi drivers was arrested on charges of raping a female passenger. In a statement issued today, the Delhi transport department said the mobile taxi-hailing service has been blacklisted from providing any transport services in the Indian capital.
The driver, Shiv Kumar Yadav, was arrested Sunday after allegedly raping a 25-year-old woman who was returning home from dinner on Friday night. As Reuters reports, Yadav, 32, faced...
Questions emerge over background check policy -
Uber launches in Portland, Oregon despite being completely illegal there
Uber has a remarkably rich history of upsetting local city transportation officials by setting up shop before laws and regulations have been ironed out. And that's just what's happening tonight in Portland, Oregon where Uber apparently surprised everyone by launching its ridesharing service without the approval of the city's transportation bureau.
Surprise! -
Uber Germany back in business after court suspends the ban in Berlin
The presiding judge of Berlin's administrative court has overturned a ban on Uber put in place by the Berlin State Department of Civil and Regulatory affairs four days ago. That ban shut down Uber citing safety concerns. Uber can now operate legally, although it seems likely that the legal wrangling is far from over. This follows the pattern Uber has been through in cities around the globe, with overlapping agencies and incumbent industries jockeying to allow or outlaw the transportation app.
...I'll be back -
Uber's regulatory battles continue as Berlin bans the service over safety concerns
Yet another city government is cracking down on the taxi app Uber. The Berlin State Department of Civil and Regulatory Affairs announced that it was banning the use of Uber on safety grounds and would fine the fast-growing startup roughly $33,450 if it continued operations, and will hit Uber drivers with a $26,760 fine for working with the service. This follows an April ban on Uber in Belgium and widespread taxi strikes in London, Paris, and Barcelona, which snarled streets and had local...
Seeking to limit consumer choice for all the wrong reasons. -
Seoul plans to ban Uber and launch its own taxi app
Uber's days in South Korea may be numbered. The city of Seoul has announced plans to ban the taxi-hailing app, citing concerns that the company threatens the livelihood of the city's taxi drivers. As a replacement, the city government plans to roll out its own GPS-based app by the end of the year, offering Seoul's citizens a similar experience without the predatory reputation that has dogged Uber in the past. An Uber representative said the company was disappointed with the decision....
Comments like these show Seoul is in danger of remaining trapped in the past. -
Uber London introduces black-cab service amid widespread protests
Amid widespread protests across Europe today, Uber is launching a new taxi service that gives Londoners access to the city's iconic black cabs. Named UberTaxi, the service strays from the regular Uber pricing structure, instead adhering to Transport for London's standard three-tier fare rates. Customers booking a black cab through Uber won't be charged a booking fee, but drivers will be charged a flat commission of 5 percent. The setup is remarkably similar to another cab app, Hailo, which...
The most expensive Uber yet -
Uber faces more time in court over alleged stealing of tips
Taxi industry disrupter Uber is flush with cash, but that hasn't stopped it from allegedly claiming 50 percent of the gratuities given to its drivers. Now, as reported by GigaOm and Xconomy, the company is facing legal troubles over the practice, as two drivers in San Francisco have filed suit against it.
This isn't the first time Uber has been in legal hot water over its gratuities policy. Drivers in Massachusetts and Chicago filed similar complaints against Uber earlier this year. This...
Five finger discount might not fly -
Uber vows to fight against DC crackdown on hybrid taxis
Uber's low-cost taxi service is facing stiff opposition in Washington, DC, thanks to new regulations that forbid some fuel-efficient cars from operating as sedans. The company launched its UberX service earlier this month in Washington and other cities, putting it in direct competition with lower-cost cabs. The service operates in essentially the same way as Uber's original app, albeit with midsize, hybrid cars rather than luxury sedans. On Monday, however, the District of Columbia Taxicab...
we do not plan to take this lying down. -
Los Angeles deals setback to Uber, other ride-sharing apps with cease and desist order
For every step of progress made by the ride-sharing industry in metropolitan havens like New York City, companies like Uber, Lyft, and SideCar continue to meet stiff resistance elsewhere. Take the city of Los Angeles for example, which just sided with traditional taxi operators by delivering sharply worded cease and desist letters to all three startups. The orders — signed by LA taxicab administrator Thomas M. Drischler — warn each company that their respective business is "operating an...
The war over the future of transportation carries on -
FTC backs Uber in dispute with DC Taxicab Commission (Update)
The Federal Trade Commission is siding with Uber in its struggle to operate legally in Washington, DC. In December, the DC City Council decided to rewrite its taxi laws so that companies like Uber — which use mobile apps to hail cabs, black cars and other transportation — could bring their businesses to the district. And in January, the City Council passed an amendment to essentially legalize Uber's e-hail app. But in May, the DC Taxicab Commission proposed new restrictions on car-booking...
The government weighs in -
After long battle, Uber becomes first taxi app to get approved in New York City
Looks like New York City isn't going to hold a grudge against Uber for attempting to launch its taxi-hailing service without permission last summer. The San Francisco startup just became the first company to be approved under New York's new pilot program, which will allow selected companies to offer smartphone apps that let customers hail a cab from their phones.
Uber! Uber! -
Uber drivers protest for better pay and treatment at San Francisco headquarters
A group of about 30 drivers have parked their cars near Uber's headquarters in San Francisco and are protesting outside its doors, with plans to strike. The drivers, who aren't direct Uber employees but rather contractors that work with the company's taxi-hailing app, told The Next Web and All Things D that they were protesting unfair practices from the company. Their complaints ranged from pay cuts to mass-firings to the lack of a commercial insurance plan for drivers. All of the issues,...
They’re running a sweatshop with an app. -
California suspends $20,000 fine against Uber as it reexamines ride-sharing rules
California's Public Utilities Commission has continued its reconciliation with ride-sharing startups. After suspending a $20,000 citation against Lyft, the CPUC has done the same for Uber, saying that the company can continue to operate and won't have to immediately pay the $20,000 it racked up for "public safety violations." In the meantime, regulators will reexamine California's transportation rules, determining how to fit startups into the existing framework of insurance requirements,...
Détente is reestablished -
Uber bringing taxi service to Washington, DC after winning City Council fight
After winning a political battle in Washington, DC last month, controversial taxi startup Uber has announced it will be adding taxi service to its existing livery cars in the city. In a blog post, Uber praised the DC City Council's decision, saying that it would begin offering a pilot program for taxis starting today. For now, black car service will remain the default, and Uber says few taxis will be available at first as the company "curates" existing cabs. Otherwise, it'll operate like...
Uber praises last month's 'pro-consumer' decision in DC -
NYC regulators approve limited pilot program for taxi hailing apps like Uber
Drivers and passengers in New York City can now use smartphone apps to hail nearby street cabs, thanks to a one-year pilot program that was just approved by the Taxi and Limousine Commission. The vote represents a partial victory for startups like Uber, Hailo, and Get Taxi, which had been lobbying New York City regulators to change the rules for months.
The pilot program allows for passengers to use apps to hail street cabs that are within a half-mile radius in Manhattan below 59th Street,...
Startups claim partial victory -
Uber wins unanimously in Washington, DC, which is now rewriting its taxi laws
Uber just won a showdown in Washington, D.C., one of the many cities where the traditional taxi and livery industry has revolted against the smartphone-native newcomer. After a drawn-out fight, the City Council unanimously passed the "Public Vehicle-for-Hire Innovation Amendment Act" this afternoon, which explicitly sanctions and regulates "digital dispatch" companies like Uber.
Uber's opponents in DC and other cities objected to the maverick startup, saying its unconventional business model...
The rogue app is now legit -
Proposed taxi regulations take aim at Uber and other 'rogue' services
Regulators from the US, Canada, and Australia are releasing guidelines on Friday for dealing with taxi apps like Uber and Zimride, reports The Wall Street Journal. While the rules would still have to be adopted by local governments, they would curtail the use of GPS as a substitute for a taxi meter, bar drivers without proper licensing from offering rides for pay, and prohibit charging extra during peak demand.
Is the IATR protecting consumers or the taxi industry?
The International...
Pulling apps out of a 'legal grey area' -
NYC regulators propose rules for taxi apps
The New York Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) is releasing a list of proposed rule changes that would permit the use of smartphone apps to hail and pay for taxicabs, provided they work with the city’s own computerized payment and trip data system. The proposal comes two weeks after regulatory disputes forced the upstart Uber to end its own taxi service in the city.
Every app would need to be licensed
The proposals would require any e-hail app to obtain a one-year, renewable license from...
No more driver bonuses or mandatory tips -
Uber launches taxi service in San Francisco after New York retreat
Uber admitted just yesterday that it was dropping the taxi component of its service for New York residents due to regulatory disputes, but that's not stopping the company from moving forward: it's launching a similar service in San Francisco today. According to a post on the company's blog, the San Francisco Uber Taxi will let customers hail cabs with their iOS or Android device, just as they currently do for the company's other car services. The cost for a given ride will be generated from...
Back on Uber's home turf -
Uber quietly shutting down taxis in New York after fight with regulators (update: Uber confirms)
Uber's "damn the man" strategy may have backfired. The San Francisco-based startup took a chance when it launched its taxi-hailing service in New York against the wishes of the local Taxi & Limousine Commission, hoping that the regulators would bend — or that customers would love Uber Taxi so much that the TLC would have to give it a pass. The goal was to be the first mover in a hotly-contested new market. However, after just over one month of operation, Uber is now asking taxi drivers to...
The free ride is over -
Massachusetts to let Uber drivers back on the streets of Boston
Less than a day after we first heard that Massachusetts was blocking Uber from operating in Boston, the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation has reversed its decision. The service, if you're not familiar, is a private taxi service that works by smartphone: the user calls the taxi via a smartphone app, but critically an Uber app is also used by the driver to determine the distance driven for billing purposes. It's that last detail that caused a problem for the Commonwealth, which...
We apologize for any confusion or inconvenience. -
Boston blocks Uber car service, citing lack of GPS mileage standards
Uber, the smartphone-dispatched private taxi service, isn't such a hit with local governments: the company narrowly avoided being priced into oblivion in Washington, DC, and this month it's being challenged in Boston. The reason might seem odd: according to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Division of Standards, which held a hearing (PDF), the company's use of GPS-equipped smartphones is the culprit. Despite admitting that GPS positioning is reasonably accurate and has been in wide use for...
It is our strong belief that the technology and service we offer does not violate existing law and regulations. -
Uber wins battle against price-fixing legislation in Washington, DC
Uber won a major victory in Washington, DC this week, when the City Council passed an amendment that effectively legalizes the company's car-booking app. The San Francisco-based startup makes an app that allows users to hire private sedans from their smartphones. The DC City Council had been deliberating over legislation that would have mandated that these sedans charge no less than five times the minimum cost of a taxi, but that version of the amendment dissipated on Tuesday, due in large...
“We brought real thunder in 18 hours”
