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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How Uber cleverly controls its stock so it won't have to go public anytime soon - unlike Facebook, Twitter, and Google
Uber is currently raising more money - up to $2.1 billion - at a valuation of about $62.5 billion. The round will bring the five-year-old company's total amount raised to just over $12 billion. And as of this moment, the company says it has no plan to go public, despite generating more than $10 billion in gross annual revenue. The last time we saw a private company scale to a $60+ billion valuation was Facebook in 2011.
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Uber is said to be shaking up policy and communications team
Uber is cutting about 20 jobs in its policy and communications department, a move that insiders describe as an overhaul of those teams. The first wave of cuts, according to four people briefed on the matter, was about three weeks ago, the result of a series of changes. Another round of cuts began on Friday, said these people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they had signed nondisclosure agreements with Uber.
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Uber drivers' class-action lawsuit allowed to expand
Uber has been dealt another setback in its legal battle over how its drivers are classified. After granting class-action status in September to a lawsuit challenging how Uber classifies its drivers, a federal judge ruled that many more drivers in California can join lawsuit, even if they had previously accepted the company's arbitration clause. The lawsuit, which accused the ride-hailing service of misclassifying its drivers as independent contractors rather than employees, could have a huge impact on Uber's business model and also create a ripple effect throughout the entire on-demand economy.
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Uber wants drivers to sign new lawsuit pledge
Uber on sent all its drivers nationwide a new, 21-page legal agreement that bars them from participating in class action lawsuits against the company and instead requires them to enter into arbitration in the case of disputes. The new agreement replaces an earlier agreement that contained similar restrictions. But its timing - just two days after a federal judge's ruling vastly expanded the class of California drivers eligible to be part of a class action lawsuit against Uber - raised concerns the ride-hailing company was trying to limit drivers from participating in the suit.
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Report calls for more consistent policies for Uber, Lyft and taxi services
Innovative transportation services such as car sharing, bike sharing, and transportation network companies like Uber and Lyft are changing mobility for millions of people, yet regulation of these services often varies greatly by geography and industry, says a report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Policymakers and regulators should craft consistent policies that encourage competition among new and traditional transportation services, such as taxis and limousines, in order to improve mobility, safety, and sustainability, the report says.
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Uber CEO Travis Kalanick is no person of the year, says accessibility advocate
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Senate again focused on Uber driver insurance
The Florida Senate isn't ready to match a House proposal that would prevent local governments from regulating popular app-based transportation services, such as Uber and Lyft. Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, said Tuesday his chamber will again focus during the 2016 legislative session on setting insurance requirements for drivers for the rideshare services. Gardiner expects Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, to file legislation that would seek to impose new insurance requirements, addressing a "gap " period that involves the time between when a driver is notified about a having a customer to pick up and the actual pickup.
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Workman: House Rules chair by day, Uber driver by night
The lobbyist was waiting for her Uber driver when Florida state Rep. Ritch Workman pulled up. "How are you doing?" he said, unlocking the backdoor. "Oh no. Thank you for the ride. I'm waiting for my Uber," she said. "That's me," Workman responded. "Oh, I'm sorry," she said. "You look a lot like a legislator I know." "Probably," Workman said he responded, saying her name. The lobbyist got in. Many male legislators, when they're in Tallahassee, try to pick up lobbyists in a far-different fashion.
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| | Four things about Uber you wish you never knew |
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