This Week In Rideshare: Citi Bikes, Waymo in Atlanta and Bus Fights.

Citi Bikes get gamed, Waymo comes to Atlanta and Uber fights off buses. LegalRideshare breaks it down.

GAMING CITI BIKES

Gaming Citi Bikes for cash has come to an end. TechCrunch reported:

The practice of “station flipping” — when one or more bike angels move docked Citi Bikes to a nearby empty station, waited 15 minutes and then moved them back — was quashed over the summer, according to Lyft. The company sent an email to the offenders reminding them that earning Bike Angel points through station flipping went against the spirit of the program. “Continued instances of station flipping could result in removal from the Bike Angels program,” the email read.

The practice lasted long enough, however, for some bike angels to earn thousands of dollars every month.

WAYMO IN ATLANTA & AUSTIN

Waymo comes to Atlanta and Austin. Forbes reported:

Waymo, the robotaxi unit of Alphabet/Google, has announced next year it will start offering service in Austin and Atlanta. That’s a big new leap, but in these cities, service will be done in partnership with Uber. In particular, you will only be able to book a ride through the Uber app, not through the Waymo One App. In addition, Uber will be handling fleet servicing and depots, while Waymo will continue to handle remote assistance, roadside assist and most customer support.

As written earlier, Waymo doesn’t long term want to be just a robotic Uber driver, leaving Uber in control of the customer and the money. That the relationship won’t stay this way doesn’t mean it’s not valuable today, with learnings (and revenue) for both companies.

UBER TO STOP BUS PLAN

Uber is pouring in cash to stop a bus plan. The San Francisco Standard reported:

Uber just spent $750,000, while Lyft put up $65,000, on a campaign against Proposition L, “The Community Transit Act,” a ballot initiative that would levy a gross-receipts tax on ride-share companies to help restore transit service across the city.

Indeed, while the Community Transit Act campaign has only about $120,000 to its name, according to recent city filings, it does have volunteers by the busload. They can be spotted at farmers markets touting their slogan: “Fund the bus!”

Siegal thinks she knows what Whitehurst means by uniting drivers. A message going out to Uber drivers reads, “San Francisco Drivers — we need your help!” and aims to recruit them in a survey to talk about how higher Uber fees may affect them.

But, Siegal notes, gross-receipts taxes — like the one proposed under Prop. L — apply to the company, not to rides.

If Uber hikes its ride fees, she said, “that’s their choice.”

LegalRideshare is the first law firm in the United States to focus exclusively on Uber®, Lyft®, gig workers, delivery and e-scooter accidents and injuries. Consultations are always free.