NewsWatch
Keeping a critical eye on Uber,
Lyft, Sidecar, et al
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Welcome to the latest edition of AFT NewsWatch, a weekly service of Advocates for Fairness in Transportation, an ad hoc group of regulated transportation service companies dedicated to informing and educating the public on threats to public safety from new so-called ride-sharing or ride-booking services such as Uber, Lyft and Sidecar. Visit the Archive to read previous editions.
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Uber driver removed after refusing passenger with wheelchair
Uber says it has removed a Dallas driver from the rideshare service after they refused to pick up a passenger in a wheelchair and then charged him for the fare. Nick Flint of Plano says he was in the Deep Ellum area of downtown Dallas and called for an Uber. According to Flint, the Uber driver "Tarianne" not only refused to pick him up once he saw his wheelchair, but also verbally berated him. "I do not feel I or anybody deserves to be treated in that nature," Flint says.
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Taxi drivers say SFO lets Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar break airport rules
At a press conference on the steps of City Hall, The San Francisco Taxi Workers Alliance, SF Yellow Cab, and Luxor Cab came out swinging against ride-hail apps at SFO. The issue, said Jim Gillespie, President and General Manager of Yellow Cab, is public safety. Taxis in San Francisco undergo annual vehicle inspections by licensed mechanics, and cab drivers must pass Live Scan background checks and complete taxi and sensitivity training courses.
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SFO renews permits for Uber, Lyft after criticizing flighty practices
San Francisco International Airport is granting permits to Uber and Lyft - while also calling their business practices unsafe. SFO this year submitted legal filings with regulators saying that ride-hail companies need stricter rules to ensure the safety of passengers. This week, it granted Lyft and Uber permits to continue driving on its roads. Taxi advocates say the split shows mixed signals - and SFO could do a lot more to enforce against scofflaw drivers.
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Woman in China robbed, molested by Uber driver: report
Chinese police have arrested an Uber driver suspected of robbing and molesting a female passenger at knifepoint, state media reported, sparking concern over the safety of increasingly popular but loosely regulated hire cars. Safety concerns over the country's ride-hailing app market came under the spotlight in China in June when a driver was detained for sexually assaulting a drunk female passenger who had used an app to get a hire car.
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Rio De Janeiro just voted to ban Uber
Rio de Janeiro became the latest city to move against Uber as its city council voted to ban unregulated ride-sharing services. The decision still needs to be approved and signed by the Mayor Eduardo Paes within the next 15 days to become law. In a statement, San Francisco-based Uber Technologies Inc said it would continue to operate normally in the city and that the vote was one against technology and the right of citizens to choose how they get around.
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Uber, Lyft get glimpse of proposed county regulations
Ride-hailing companies Uber and Lyft got a preview on the concepts that Clark County (Nev.) officials are incorporating into proposed regulations. For now, travelers who hail their rides will have to stick with cabs a bit longer since the proposed ordinance for transportation network companies won't get a public hearing and vote until Oct. 20. That means that the ride-hailing companies won't be operating until later in the year, probably November.
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Police in West Covina investigate discovery of woman's body in possible Uber vehicle
Police were investigating the death of a woman whose body was found in a car parked outside a grocery store in West Covina. The discovery was made in the parking lot of a Stater Bros., according to the West Covina Police Department. The woman's body was found in the backseat of a gray Volkswagen, said police Sgt. Brian Daniels. On the front passenger seat, investigators found a tan leather purse. The vehicle appeared to have an Uber sticker and tag, but the ride-sharing service would not confirm or deny whether the car or its driver was registered with the company.
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Woman claims San Francisco Uber driver terrified her
An Uber ride turned into a terrifying ordeal for a South Bay woman who says the experience left her fearing for her life. ABC7 News looked into what happened and how company officials are responding. Los Gatos resident Vikki Pachera says she had the worst Uber experience ever. "I've always been really supportive of the company, but they can't have drivers like that. People can't be put into that situation," Pachera said.
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Uber drivers in Delaware told to get business licenses
Officials in numerous Delaware cities have asked drivers who use the ride-hailing app Uber to obtain business licenses. The News Journal of Wilmington reports that under a deal struck by Delaware and the company this year, it is unclear if Uber has to pay for a license in any municipalities. Dewey Beach police have issued 18 tickets to drivers for not having $109 business licenses.
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Driver accused of raping customer worked for Uber
The Linden (N.J.) man accused of raping a female customer after he was hired to drive her and a friend last Saturday had just begun working for Uber, the company confirmed. "This is a deplorable incident and the partner was removed from the platform as soon as we were made aware of the allegations," said Matthew Wing, a spokesman for the company. "We will do everything we can to assist with the investigation."
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Uber drivers to stage one-day hunger strike in Hyderabad
Disgruntled Uber cab drivers would be staging a one-day hunger strike in Hyderabad against denial of promised incentives and business by the management. The drivers working for the US-headquartered transportation service provider have alleged that they were not getting the promised business and were making much less money than what they had been assured.
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Police: Possible Uber driver wanted in DC sexual assault
A possible Uber driver is wanted after police say he sexually assaulted a woman. The suspect is described as a black male, 25 to 35-years-old, with dark complexion and a short haircut. He was seen wearing a white shirt. Police believe the suspect may be an Uber driver. They say he was seen driving a white sports car with black leather seats. Anyone who has information regarding this case should call police at 202-727-9099. .
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Rise of Uber costing MTA dearly
The surge in Uber ridership has cost the MTA $1 million - since only metered cabs collect the agency-dedicated 50 cent surcharge, according to a new study. The MTA's cut fell from $88 million in 2011 to $87 million in 2015, according to the Citizen Budget Commission. The organization recommended that the state direct taxes collected from Uber and other for-hire cars specifically to the MTA to cover the agency's shortfall.
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To regulate or not to regulate? EU to launch study on Uber
The European Commission will launch a study in September of the ride-hailing app Uber in an effort to settle legal disputes that have pitched the U.S. start-up against conventional taxis across Europe, three people familiar with the matter said. Since opening in Paris in 2011, San Francisco-based Uber has run into vehement opposition from taxi drivers, who complain it competes unfairly by bypassing local laws on licensing and safety.
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Woman run over by Uber driver identified, driver says he's traumatized
An Uber driver in Columbus (Ohio) is traumatized after police said he ran over a woman during a pick-up. Everistus Yonou told ABC 6/FOX 28 that he preferred driving at night due to the light traffic. He accepted a fare at 1:30 a.m. when he said a couple walked down their driveway and to his Nissan SUV fighting. Police said Monica Serrott, 38, died when Yonou's back tire ran over her body. "If I had the opportunity, I'd like to say I'm sorry for what happened," Youno said as he maintains he never wants to drive for the service again.
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| | Digital Hitchhiking: Think Before You App from Ride Responsibly |
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