Category Archives: sharing economy

INTERIM. Sharing Economy. Uber Ultimatum to Houston. 3 Reasons Uber May Leave.

What ultimatum did Uber issue to Houston? Change your ordinance or Uber is out…

What are 3 reasons behind the ultimatium?

  • Bureaucracy isn’t the answer. City regulations are too onerous on drivers 
  • Safety Checks should be Use Modern Tech. Uber thinks its background checks are better for rider safety
  • Houston Stands in the Way of Economic Opportunity for Drivers. City regulations are harming part time drivers that could benefit most from flexible economic opportunities

Houston…

INTERIM. Legal Trend: Sharing Economy. Court Says Drivers are Independent Contractors

This week’s settlement of lawsuits in California and Massachusettes maintains the indepdent contractor status of Uber drivers. 

Court sign off will occur when the judge approves the settlement.

KOLO | Uber settlement keeps drivers as contractors in 2 states

The Recorder | Uber Strikes Expensive Peace Pact With Drivers

INTERIM. Sharing Economy. City to Require Business License from Ride Share Drivers. Key Intel.

Which city will require a local business license for ride share drivers? San Francisco

How were drivers alerted of this new city regulation?  With notification by letter to all 37,018 drivers

What revenue will be generated? $3.37 million a year

Can drivers operate without a license? If and only if the driver works less than 7 days. 

How much does the license cost? $91 if the driver makes less than $100,000/year

AutoBlog | Uber and Lyft drivers need to obtain business licenses…

INTERIM. Ride Share Data. New Report. Government Data Requests Impact 11+ million.

Where did the ride share data report originate? UBER produced its first ever transparency report

The numbers of data requests from July 2015 to December 2015:

  • 33 requests from government agencies
  • 11,644,000 riders affected
  • 583,000 drivers affected
  • California, NYC, and Chicago governmental entities requested the most data
  • 517,000 riders & 14,000 drivers impacted by a Houston, TX data request
  • 370 riders & 370 drivers impacted by a San Antonio, TX data request

Uber | Transparency…

INTERIM. Sharing Economy. 5 Statistics about Taxi Use Decline.

  • Since ride share began in L.A. pre-arranged taxi rides fell 42%
  • Since ride share, the total number of L.A. taxi rides have fallen 30%
  • The impact of ride share is felt most by taxi service in tourist and nightlife areas
  • In San Francisco, the number of trips taken by taxi is down 2/3 in 2 years
  • The downturn in taxi use has hit taxi drivers most.
    • Taxi Drivers take home $400-$500 per week. 
    • Down from $800 a couple years ago

The decline in taxi ridership in Los Angeles mirrors trends in…

The $2.2 Million + Ride Share Local Election. Ride Share Ordinance Campaign by the Numbers

  • 5 weeks of fundraising left
  • Ride Share Comapnies have contributed $2.2 million
  • 7th of May is election day
  • The cost of Mayor Adler’s campaign: $1.2 million 

Statesman | Uber, Lyft donate nearly $2.2 million to effort to pass Prop. 1 in May

KUT | Uber, Lyft Have Spent More Than $2 Million on Prop 1 Campaign So Far

Trend: Local Governments Create Own Ride Share Like Apps. 6 Key Informed Intel.

Why are transit apps a growing trend with local governments? Surgning populations are straining roads

Did Denver, CO contract with a company to create its app? Yes, it contracted with Xerox

What does the Denver Transit App do?It allows a person to compare the time it will take to travel in various transportation modes. 

What types of transit information does the Denver app contain?

  • bike-share stations
  • nearby Lyft drivers
  • close Car2Go vehicles
  • open parking spaces
  • mass transit

Does…

INTERIM. Ride Share Compromise in its Home State. Read the Deal. 5 Key Pieces of Intel. Know the Intel before it arrives.

The District Attorneys of Los Angeles and San Francisco broughts suits against ride share companies in late 2014. 

A deal has been reached between the D.A.’s and ride share companies. The key points:

  • Ride share companies cannot use current description of background checks an safety checks.
  • Ride share companies have a $10M fine, up to $25 million if they don’t comply in future years
  • Ride Share has to work with a state agency to ensure that the fees charged are fair and accurate
  • Ride…

INTERIM CALLING. 2 Reasons Tech Companies Oppose Bills to Regulate Ride Share Drivers. 2 Locals Moving Bills.

  • Drivers should be free to earn what they want, when they want to earn it
  • Bills directed at the worker status in the sharing economy unfairly target these contract driver over other industries that also utilize contract workers

What governmental bodies are moving this type of sharing economy legislation, that targets ride share drivers?

  • Seattle by ordinance
  • California, pending AB 1727

The Recorder | Internet Association Takes Shot at Gig-Economy Bill

INTERIM. Sharing Economy. Air Share.

Is air share on a digital platform permitted? In August 2014, the FAA shut down air share, and limits open seats to friends of the pilot only.

What fix is in the works to allow air share? Congressman Mark Sanford added an amendment for air share to the Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization Act of 2016 

Americans for Tax Reform | Planesharing Aims for Liftoff Despite FAA Drag