[ad_1] New Jersey gave Uber a $54 million bill back in 2015, but it’s not certain if the company ever paid that. Not surprisingly, Uber is contesting the bill. It told Engadget it was “challenging this preliminary but incorrect determination,” insisting that drivers are “independent contractors.” The company believes the bill overestimate its business in […]
Category: ridesharing
Via now provides veterans with free rides in the DC area
[ad_1] VetRides is being offered in partnership with the DC Mayor’s Office for Veterans Affairs (MOVA) and the Department of For-Hire Vehicles (DFHV). Veterans can register for the service through MOVA, and they’ll be able to book rides through the Via mobile app or a call center. Via will offer wheelchair-accessible vehicles. “All of DC […]
Senator urges Uber and Lyft to run fingerprint background checks
[ad_1] “They have a real responsibility for taking every possible step to do background checks that are reliable and comprehensive,” he told the Washington Post. He said both companies had “ambiguous” responses to questions he sent them about ridesharing safety measures. He sought more details following reports about Uber’s investigations team allegedly being told to […]
Uber faces lawsuit for allegedly underpaying New York drivers
[ad_1] The lawsuit also claims that Uber’s upfront pricing (implemented in 2016) violated contracts by presenting customers and drivers with two different fares. Passengers would sometimes pay higher fares than what drivers saw, and Uber reportedly “pocket[ed] the difference.” On top of this, the lawsuit represents a challenge to Uber agreements forcing drivers to take […]
New York Supreme Court dismisses Uber’s challenge to vehicle caps
[ad_1] Uber told Engadget it was “disappointed” with the outcome, claiming that it “punishes” drivers who are obligated to rent cars. In the past, it has argued that the caps would hurt outer boroughs (with less access to mass transit) and wouldn’t fix NYC’s problems with traffic congestion. It’s not shocking that the Supreme Court […]
Lyft’s stricter safety policy could make it harder to ban bad drivers
[ad_1] Under the new system, Lyft also requires its Trust and Safety team to follow a strict set of guidelines that is displayed on their computer as they work through a case (the company also made the role an hourly position instead of a salaried one). Under Lyft’s previous system, Trust and Safety team members […]
Lyft’s new monthly subscription is cheaper, but has fewer perks
[ad_1] Lyft Pink comes with a few other perks, like three “free” 30-minute bike or scooter rides per month (in select markets), three free trip cancelations, priority airport pickup and waived lost-and-found fees. The service isn’t quite ready yet, but the company says it’s coming soon, and you can sign up for early access now. […]
Waymo’s fully-automated shuttles are picking up riders around Phoenix
[ad_1] At the beginning of the month, Waymo said it was close to offering autonomous rides with no backup driver. This announcement suggests that it’s plans are on schedule. Unfortunately, Waymo has not confirmed when it will open the driverless rides to all customers in Phoenix, and users who have signed up for the service […]
Hyundai will offer free self-driving rides in Irvine, California
[ad_1] The project isn’t meant to research the technology so much as it is the people using it — this will “study consumer behavior” when interacting with autonomous services, Hyundai’s Christopher Chang said. In other words, the automaker will use BotRide to shape its self-driving cars and services around real-world experiences, not just theoretical scenarios. […]
Lyft will give people free and discounted rides to job interviews
[ad_1] The ridesharing company is aiming to help people from a range of backgrounds. They include veterans, people with disabilities, refugees, formerly incarcerated individuals, those in low-income areas and 18- to 24-year-olds perhaps trying to land their first job. The program will initially be available in more than 35 cities across the US and Canada, […]