We repeatedly see “ridesharing” companies employ scare negotiation tactics to pressure cities into creating regulations in line with what they want—little or no fees for operating and avoidance of costly public safety requirements. The most recent example of Uber’s “ultimatum strategy” has taken place in Boise, Idaho.
Two days after the Boise City Council voted to draft an ordinance allowing “ridesharing” companies to operate legally, Uber announced it would suspend operations in the city. Despite the council holding a closed meeting with an Uber representative in attendance, council members received a letter from the company claiming it was “suspending operations in the City of Boise effective immediately.”
Again, this isn’t the first time Uber has challenged regulations created to allow the company to operate. Uber sent a letter to a San Antonio council member saying the proposed regulations would “cripple” the company’s business and “if the rules remain unchanged, Uber will have no choice but to leave San Antonio.”
Uber has delivered similar ultimatums to regulators in Houston, Auburn and Nevada. Lyft has used similar tactics in San Antonio, Houston and Columbus.
Uber and Lyft continually use these scare tactics, demanding cities bend and break their own rules in permitting them to operate. Uber is dressing itself up in safety these days, but the company’s repeated willingness to force cities to forgo safe criminal background checks and insurance coverage says different.
Two days after the Boise City Council voted to draft an ordinance allowing “ridesharing” companies to operate legally, Uber announced it would suspend operations in the city. Despite the council holding a closed meeting with an Uber representative in attendance, council members received a letter from the company claiming it was “suspending operations in the City of Boise effective immediately.”
Again, this isn’t the first time Uber has challenged regulations created to allow the company to operate. Uber sent a letter to a San Antonio council member saying the proposed regulations would “cripple” the company’s business and “if the rules remain unchanged, Uber will have no choice but to leave San Antonio.”
Uber has delivered similar ultimatums to regulators in Houston, Auburn and Nevada. Lyft has used similar tactics in San Antonio, Houston and Columbus.
Uber and Lyft continually use these scare tactics, demanding cities bend and break their own rules in permitting them to operate. Uber is dressing itself up in safety these days, but the company’s repeated willingness to force cities to forgo safe criminal background checks and insurance coverage says different.