NewsWatch
  Keeping a critical eye on Uber, 
Lyft, Sidecar, et al

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.

Rider says Lyft driver demanded sex
A woman who vomited during a ride in a Lyft car claims in court that the driver followed her into her home and demanded sex in exchange for waiving the $100 cleaning fee. Virginia Serrano sued Alan Roe and Lyft in San Diego Superior Court. "It was really a betrayal of trust," her attorney David Gilleon told Courthouse News. "Whenever you get in a car you put your life in the driver's hands, but this takes it to a whole new level." 
Florida Uber driver arrested for exchanging a ride in his vehicle for oral sex: police
An Uber driver was arrested in Florida after receiving oral sex from a woman in exchange for a ride. Jason Lynch, 42, was spotted picking up a female passenger in a St. Petersburg area "known for prostitution activity," police said. And when cops swooped in on the car in a parking lot, he was spotted "receiving oral sex in his vehicle" from Elizabeth Santos, 41. Lynch had his penis exposed in "full view of the public," says the police report, according to The Smoking Gun.
Imposter Uber driver picks up Portland woman
A Portland woman who was picked up by an imposter Uber driver says her case should serve as a warning to other women who use the ride-hailing service. Courtney Lage was leaving a friend's birthday party just after midnight on Oct. 11 at a bar. She requested a ride through the Uber app and watched on her phone as the app showed the car approach. As it appeared to get close, Lage said, a man pulled up and said "Uber?" Lage got in, but she told The Oregonian/OregonLive she started getting nervous when, as he started driving away, the driver asked for her address. 
SFPD: Alleged kidnap attempt involving deaf Lyft driver was misunderstanding
A woman who jumped out of her Lyft ride and broke her ankle because she feared she was being kidnapped in San Francisco actually had a deaf driver who didn't know she was talking to him, police said. San Francisco police spokesman Officer Albie Esparza said that officers contacted the hearing-impaired driver and determined that the incident was merely an unfortunate misunderstanding. 
Uber pulls out of three German cities
Days ago, Uber gleefully announced a partnership with the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius to launch a ridesharing pilot in the city of 536,000 people. The company frequently touts these types of agreements to illustrate its growing acceptance by regulators and city governments. Well, you know what they say: two Uber trips forward, one Uber trip back. On Friday, blaming complex regulations, the company announced it had pulled out of three German cities: Hamburg (population 1.7 million); Frankfurt (687,000); and D�sseldorf (593,000).
No new taxis or Uber for Vancouver, council decides
Even though Vancouver councillors say the city is short cabs, especially during peak hours, they are still not willing to open up the streets to more competition, including Uber cabs. The city failed to end the moratorium on licences, after overwhelming push back from cabbies. "I don't want to say [the staff report] was rejected," said Counc. Melissa De Genova."It just makes no sense to me that we would move forward with 38 suburban cabs, and not with the 58 accessible cabs that are so needed."
Time to hold Uber to same standards as traditional taxis
Many years ago, all taxi cabs were unregulated. A person could just throw a taxi sign on their car and a new business was created. Problems developed, of course, because not everyone is trustworthy to drive a cab. Government started to regulate the industry to put a curb on the abuses.
How to hack Uber surge-charge fares by 10-20%
In a pinch and need a lift? There's nothing more frustrating than getting slapped with an Uber fare four times the ride's usual cost. Well, what if waiting 5 minutes or walking a couple blocks could make the surge-charge disappear? A study from Northeastern University researchers, billed as "the first in-depth investigation of Uber," offers some tangible tips - and other fascinating insights - about the mysterious algorithm that guides the country's most popular ride-share service.
Technicality ties up Uber technologies
As Uber Technologies Inc. faces a pair of court challenges that raise big questions about the way it classifies, pays and vets the 300,000 drivers offering rides through its app, the cases may hinge on what many would call a legal technicality. In the agreement all Uber drivers must sign to start work, the company asks workers to agree to resolve disputes through arbitration rather than the courts, and bars them from joining class-action suits against the company. 
Another employment case filed against Uber in California
A former Uber driver named Ramy Kabany has filed a complaint against the fast-growing company in California, arguing that he should be reimbursed for work-related expenses such as gas, car maintenance and repairs. The case will hinge on whether a state labor commissioner decides that he is, as Uber claims, and independent contractor, or whether he should be classified as an employee. 
City of Calgary begins Uber crackdown, officials say undercover stings against drivers are 'ongoing,'
The City of Calgary started issuing violation tickets to Uber drivers. During a press conference, manager of Calgary's Compliance Services Marc Halat said undercover operations targeting private for-hire vehicles, are ongoing. "The offenders here are the drivers," he said. "The drivers are the ones that are operating without the adequate insurance, without the adequate oversight in terms of police checks, without the adequate standard of maintenance of the vehicle." 
Four Things About Uber You Wish You Never Knew
Four things about Uber you wish you never knew
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