Less than two weeks ago, Uber won a battle against New York City’s cab cartels and anti-consumer choice advocates like Mayor DeBlasio.
Under the guise of monitoring traffic flow, DeBlasio attempted to pass legislation that would’ve limited the number of Uber vehicles allowed in the city. Failing to whip the requisite number of votes to pass the measure, DeBlasio and the cab cartels were defeated and Uber reigned victorious.
That victory was short-lived.
NYC’s elected officials and the cities cab cartels are once again trying to stifle the ride-share economy. This time, DeBlasio and crew are targeting Uber’s pricing.
The New York Post reports:
Administration officials are studying how to curb the price of a fare Uber can charge during peak hours, prevent livery drivers from dropping non-Uber customers for Uber rides, and help taxis develop their own app to make hailing a cab easier, say sources familiar with City Hall.City Hall officials tacitly support one proposal introduced months ago by Councilman David Greenfield (D-Brooklyn) that would restrict surge pricing to 100 percent of the base fare, according to sources, but they are examining how high to set the cap and how to enforce the measure.De Blasio spokesman Wiley Norvell would only say, “We’re reviewing the legislation.”
That it’s 2015 and the NYC cab cartel doesn’t have an effective cab-hailing app is no one’s fault but their own. It’s also perfectly illustrative of how the free market responds to innovative technology.
Uber, Lyft, and other’s have been utilizing mobile driven ride-share technology for years, and NYC cabbies need help making an app that undoubtedly will accomplish the same only less efficiently? Cry me a river.
Uber says the restrictions would dig into driver profits.
Uber spokeswoman Alix Anfang said the company opposes any move that would cut down on profits drivers receive during times when they are most needed.“Uber provides thousands of NYC driver-partners with better economic opportunities and the flexibility to be their own boss,” she said. “Uber is against any bill that threatens the progress driver-partners — predominantly from the outer boroughs — are able to enjoy.”
Pro-taxi advocates have more confidence in a price-capping measure than they did in the vehicle licensing bill that failed.
“The surge-pricing bill, unlike the car cap, was pro-consumer, Uber users heavily support it, and there was strong council support,” said one pro-taxi consultant. “De Blasio dropped the ball on this and should have figured out how to enforce the bill and then signed the bill into law a while ago. It was a big fumble on the administration’s part.”Council Transportation Committee Chairman Ydanis Rodriguez was confident a surge-pricing bill would pass once lawmakers and the mayor start talking.“We will come out with a number that we both agree on,” he said. “For me, it’s the number Greenfield can put on the table and get the support of stakeholders to get an agreement on surge pricing that will be established for everyone to follow.”
Uber and other ride-share companies continue to grow in popularity, particularly among business travelers. Wired looked at how the ride-share economy is cutting into the taxi and rental car markets.
… expense software company Certify released its lastest data on how business travelers are spending money. Their report found that for the first time, travelers used Uber more than traditional taxis. Uber accounted for 55 percent of ground transportation receipts submitted by employees versus 43 percent for taxis. (About 1 percent of receipts were for Lyft rides and another 1 percent for other ride-hailing services.) That’s a reversal from last quarter, when Uber had 46 percent of the receipts versus 53 percent for taxis.The spike in Uber use is also taking a chunk out of the rental car business, according to the report. In the second quarter of 2014, 55 percent of people rented a car while traveling on business; that figure dropped by 10 percent during the same period this year. The receipts don’t lie, Certify says: “Uber is fast evolving to become the preferred choice of business travelers for ground transportation.”
Companies like Uber provide creative solutions for consumers, unique opportunities for employees, and are continually rewarded with backlash from lazy, government-supported industries who refuse to make necessary improvements to keep up with market demands.
Amazingly, these anti-consumer choice initiatives are consistently supported, pushed, and created by self-professed “Progressives.”
“Progress?”
Follow Kemberlee Kaye on Twitter @kemberleekaye
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