If only Uber drivers actually ever tried to drive a real cab, like a Yellow Cab, they'd STFU and stop whining. For a real cab, you're looking at ~$100 per day lease, and you have to pay for your own gas. They (Uber peeps) got it good so far. But as a company, Uber is going to get in trouble if they cannot vet their drivers better. Implosion imminent.
Uber, Lyft carpool could significantly reduce traffic A new MIT study suggests that Uber and Lyft's carpool services could reduce as much as75 percent of the vehicleson the road. But this decongestion would rely on commuters being willing to ride with strangers.(East Bay Times)
Lyft lost $600M, but generated $700M in revenue Lyft made about $700 million in sales, but lost about $600 million in 2016, as the company aims to become profitable by 2018. Lyft trails Uber, but both companies spend heavily on discounts for riders and drivers. (Bloomberg)
Uber to pay $20M after bogus claims to recruit drivers Uber must pay $20 million for misleading drivers on how much they would earn and how much it would cost to lease or buy a car through the company. The Federal Trade Commission will distribute the money to the drivers who were affected by the exaggerated claims. (CNET News)
My Spidey-Sense says to get everything you have out of "Uber" and "Lyft". Just avoid them, like bad pizza.
Uber hires veteran NASA engineer to develop flying cars After years of research into so-called VTOL - vertical takeoff and landing - cars, Mark Moore is leaving the confines of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, where he has spent the last 30 years, to join Uber Technologies Inc. Moore is taking on a new role as director of engineering for aviation at the ride-hailing company, working on a flying-car initiative known as Uber Elevate. (Bloomberg)
Smart. Feds should do it too. Arizona lawmaker pushes for Uber instead of state vehicles By BOB CHRISTIE, Associated Press 3 Hours Ago The Associated Press PHOENIX (AP) — An Arizona lawmaker has proposed legislation requiring the state to cut its vehicle fleet by 20 percent and to launch a program that could use ride-hailing services like Uber or Lyft or other companies to provide transportation for state workers. Rep. Jeff Weninger, R-Chandler, said the state government owns too many vehicles and he wants taxpayer dollars used more efficiently for state employee travel. "The amount of vehicles that governments have is astounding," he said in an interview last Tuesday. Weninger's House Bill 2440 requires a 20 percent cut in the state car and light truck fleet and the creation of a pilot program using rental cars, fleet management services, ride hailing services, vehicle for hire companies or private-public partnerships. The state would be free to choose from those options, which Weninger said would add transportation flexibility and leave room for new or innovative technologies that do not yet exist. Weninger said his legislation targets about 13,000 vehicles used by state workers and excludes police cruisers, firetrucks and construction vehicles. Weninger previously served on the Chandler City Council and helped champion an effort that led to a 22 percent drop in the city's vehicle costs. "We found our fleet was huge and we found that we had people that drove two times a week for a few hours each day, and they had their own car issued to them," Weninger said. "And so we shrunk the fleet and we saved a lot of money." Chandler cuts its fleet by 25 percent, from 845 cars, light trucks and SUVs in 2009 to 617 cars now, said Chandler Management Services Director Dawn Lang said. The city saved $1.6 million annually and now spends about $6 million yearly on its fleet. Cooperation between city department heads to thoroughly assess vehicle assignments and use was key to the program's success, Lang said. "It required everyone to be at the table to share how their employees work," Lang said. "It allowed us to really hone in on where we could cut vehicles." The program was being put into place during the Great Recession and the cuts were made when the city was already looking at ways to cut costs. The Associated Press asked the state Department of Administration to provide statistics on the state's fleet size, use and costs last Tuesday, but it was unable to provide the information as of close of business Friday.