Category Archives: sharing economy

New Study: The Enemy of my Enemy is my Friend. Ride Share Edition.

Does ride share usage reduce car ownership? That’s what this news report says, relying on studies from Texas A&M, University of Michigan, and the City of Austin.

Does this make new allies of taxis and auto manufacturers? Are taxis and parking lot owners gong to bond over the reduced use of parking lots?

Portland KGW.com | Uber and Lyft Could Kill Car Ownership in Big Cities

Local Trend. Ordinance to Reign in Ride Share Price Surging. 3 Bits informed:intel

Chicago City Council, like other cities, is looking to reign in ride share price surging. Here’s the policy plan in Chicago:

  • surge pricing cap implementation to offset companies that use predatory pricing
  • surge price cap would be 150% of a regular fare during the 7 days before the unforeseen emergency
  • unforeseen emergency would be defined as “any actual or threatened terrorist attack, mass shooting, major disruption in public transportation, failure or shortage or electric power and…

TREND. +1 Way Local Governments are Utilizing Ride Share for Services.

Boston instituted a pilot program for ride share to help with paratransit that subsidizes rides on Uber and Lyft.

What business traits do paratransit need:

  • well-trained drivers
  • smart dispatch
  • flexibility: multiple stops & a wide range of physical limitations

Philly.com | Should Philly follow Boston and remake paratransit with ride hailing?

Local Trend. Ordinances on Ads in Ride Share.

Chicago prohibits advertisements in ride share vehicles.

A company that offers entertainment services (video games & ad content; not prostitution) sued claiming that the ordinance violates equal protection clause of the US Constitution because it does not apply to taxis or other vehicles.

The case is progressing in federal courts after surviving motions to kick the case out of court. 

Courthouse News Service | Judge Doesn’t Like Chicago’s Ban on Ads in Ubers

TREND. Amend statewide ride share laws with more reporting. Safety First.

After passing statewide ride share laws states, like North Dakota, seek to amend their laws.

What do states want to change about their ride share laws?

  • More detailed information about ride share driver incidents
  • Greater detail on the severity of incidents
  • Ensure disclosure of the number of traffic violations
  • More details about the statewide number of drivers to compare the incidents to those in the overall driving public

WDAZ | Lawmakers may boost reporting requirements for Uber, Lyft next…

Local Trend. Statewide Ride Share law. Local Ballot to Accept Ride Share. At issue: Local Taxes.

The October ballot in Ketchikan Alaska will ask its citizens whether to permit ride share operators.

Alaska has a statewide rideshare law, but a skeptical mayor and city council want local input. 

The skepticism, you ask? Whether ride share companies will remit local sales taxes.

SF Chronicle | Alaska city leaders put ride-sharing ban on ballot

Legal Trend. Cabbies lose in Court. Louisiana edition.

Cab drivers in the City of Kenner, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana sued to level the playing field in Kenner and at its airport.

The cab drivers ultimately want ride share drivers to maintain the same occupational license as cab drivers. Teh city of Kenner said it didn’t have the resources or revenue for enforcement. The cab drivers suggested the city put up checkpoints to check licenses.

The Kenner court saw it differently. 

WWLTV Louisiana | Judge rules against Kenner cabbies