UNDERSTANDING THE Issues
OF
SO-CALLED ‘RIDESHARING’ APPS
“Who’s Driving You?” This central question has spurred an initiative of the Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association along with concerned members of the transportation industry. Concerned about what? The rise of unregulated taxi services—such as uberX, Lyft and Sidecar—placing passengers, drivers and pedestrians at risk.
These companies are a serious threat to public safety.
Why? For starters, “ridesharing” companies who use amateur drivers and other unregulated transportation apps are not adequately insured. Their insurance coverage contains various loopholes which could result in uncompensated pain and suffering. These amateur drivers are not subject to screening via public agency background checks that demand fingerprints and that are run through police and FBI databases. Passengers have been assaulted yet some of these companies continue to insist their background checks are the most stringent in the industry. They aren’t. Equally concerning, these amateur drivers are not required to pass any drug tests before they start picking up passengers.
And don’t forget their so-called “surge pricing.” We call it price gouging. These companies charge multiple times the standard amount during emergencies or “peak” demand. Price gouging has been illegal most everywhere and practically forever. These price-gouging companies want to make obscene profits by charging people more when passengers are in dire need or distress—even during natural disasters.
These companies rail against oversight and regulation. We believe the public’s basic right to safety and corporate accountability will be upheld.
We’re here to make it happen.