This Week in Rideshare: Shared, NYC and India.
Shared rides return, gas stops drivers and Uber considers an exit. LegalRideshare breaks it down.
MONDAY 6/20/22
Gas prices have pushed drivers out of DoorDash. The Lebanon Reporter explains:
As gas prices now have climbed to over $5 a gallon, delivery drivers for services including DoorDash are debating if the service’s pay is worth the amount to fill up.
With gas prices hitting a recent high, Jacobs said she is taking a break working for the service.
“It’s definitely taken a lot more of my paycheck, to the point it’s not even worth it to DoorDash,” she said.
The pay was too low — around $2.50 to $3.50 before tips. The app also wanted her to rack up miles doing deliveries outside of town for similar pay.
TUESDAY 6/21/22
Shared rides are returning to even more cities. CNBC added:
Uber announced Tuesday it’s bringing back shared rides in a handful of U.S. cities after pulling the service for more than two years.
The feature, which allows riders to share a car with strangers going in a similar direction for a discount, is available in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Phoenix, San Diego, Portland, Oregon, Indianapolis and Pittsburgh. It plans to expand to other locations this summer, the company said.
WEDNESDAY 6/22/22
Gas prices have caused the President of NYC Rideshare Club to speak out. Business Insider via Naomi’s essay added:
I’ve been an Uber driver for six years, and now I’m the president of the NYC Rideshare Club. Our club is part of a larger coalition, Justice for App Workers, which includes nine rideshare groups. We recently staged a caravan protest in Manhattan over how rideshare apps are handling the rising gas prices.
Skyrocketing gas prices aren’t something we were planning for. It’s not something we expected. It just happened.
With these gas prices, many of us can’t even pay some of our essential bills. There’s just no money.
Even our driving strategy has changed because of it. We used to cruise around looking for the places we were most likely to get a ride, depending on demand trends around the city.
Now, you’ll find someone just staying at one location and waiting. But you have to be careful not to double park or park by the hydrant, because there are traffic police out there. It’s disrupted everything.
THURSDAY 6/23/22
Uber considered selling off its India-based branch. Bloomberg reported:
Uber Technologies Inc. explored options for its Indian ride-hailing business, including a sale, but suspended discussions after tech startup valuations cratered, people familiar with the matter said.
The US company began weighing alternatives and reached out to several interested parties after recognizing it had limited potential for profitable expansion in the country, the people said, asking not to be named as the information isn’t public. It pondered a stock swap with local companies or even a pullout, before a global equity market rout upended plans, the people added.
FRIDAY 6/24/22
City of Chicago is considering a rideshare wage ordinance. NBC5 reported:
Rideshare drivers are counting on the city of Chicago to pass an ordinance that addresses issues including pay raises and safety concerns. However, opponents warn it’ll come at a steep cost to passengers.
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.
