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"content": "\u003cp>State regulators have analyzed and released a tiny glimpse of data submitted by Uber, Lyft and other companies -- information the firms have carefully guarded because they claim it would reveal trade secrets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A report on some of the data was presented at a Nov. 5th meeting of the California Public Utilities Commission. While the analysis doesn’t size up how transportation network companies (TNC) are complying with state regulations overall, it does provide a snapshot of the volume of trips and growth of ride services over the past two years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The aggregated data confirm steady month-by-month growth of transportation network companies in California, amounting to a total of 612.6 million miles driven over the two-year period from September 2013 to September 2015. Rides during that time generated about $1.6 billion in fares.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The numbers may sound large, but when compared with overall vehicle trips in California, they still represent a relatively small slice of the pie, according to Juan Matute, associate director of UCLA's Institute of Transportation Studies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The report combines data from UberX, Lyft, Sidecar, Summon, Wings and Shuddle. It doesn’t include numbers that might tell how ride services are serving passengers with disabilities and people who live in disadvantaged communities.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"The reason we didn’t provide charts on all the data [is] we’re still evaluating the data and communicating with some of the companies on some of the data issues,\" Valerie Kao of the CPUC's Safety and Enforcement Division told the commission.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Collisions\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The numbers indicate collisions and incidents involving ride service drivers are climbing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"If it’s normalized by miles driven, you’d expect the number of incidents to be somewhat stable over time,\" said Matute. The increase is concerning, he said, \"because that would be indicative of TNCs being less safe as they scale up.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kao, the CPUC’s analyst, said most of the incidents were minor fender benders or rear-end collisions. The report listed the number of \"incidents/collisions\" involving pedestrians and bicyclists, though it did not highlight how many involved injuries or deaths.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>More than 300 of the “incidents” involved passengers opening doors into traffic. Ninety collisions were doorings of people on bikes, skateboards, motorcycles and scooters. The report counted 200 incidents where a bicyclist or pedestrian was \"struck,\" or \"made contact with\" or \"involved.\" And it added this detail: Drivers “rolled over” passengers’ feet 100 times.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Currently, the report says, more than 30,000 new drivers are being trained every month by the TNCs, although Kao said that number is probably overstated because it doesn't reflect inactive drivers, or drivers who work for both Uber and Lyft, for example.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the meeting, Commissioner Catherine Sandoval, who noted that a driver once hit her while she was walking, said pedestrian and bicyclist safety training should be included.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think that having some training around this area would be very important. There are areas like San Francisco that are known hot zones for these collisions,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2013, an Uber driver was charged with vehicular manslaughter for hitting and killing 6-year-old \u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/news/tag/sophia-liu\">Sofia Liu\u003c/a> as she and her family were walking in a crosswalk on San Francisco’s Polk Street. In July, Uber settled a lawsuit with the Liu family.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The data say Uber paid an average insurance amount of $6,500 per incident. It did not indicate fault in the incidents and collisions. CPUC officials did not immediately respond to questions about the data.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Evening Rides\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>More than 30 percent of all trips were taken in the evening, between 7 and 10 p.m., an indication that many are using the services for social outings, said Matute.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"People are using transportation network companies after the peak hours for transit service, when it's dark, when they might not feel comfortable bicycling,\" said Matute.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What was most interesting about the data to Matute was that 30 percent of rides were 3 miles and under, and nearly half of all trips cost $10 or less.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"That showed me that they were primarily trips where biking could have potentially been a viable option. They might be trips where transit wouldn't be a viable option,\" said Matute, who added it's also possible short trips may have combined transit and ride services.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Uber 'Defied' Requirements\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some of the data, according to regulators, was difficult to get from the largest transportation network company, Uber, which was threatened in July with suspension and a $7 million fine by an administrative law judge for failing to meet all the reporting requirements.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When it came to submitting detailed data by Zip code, regulators say what Uber submitted was “useless” and “suffered from a serious lack of precision.” The company argued the data would reveal trade secrets, offering competitors clues on where to expand “without conducting market research.” CPUC representatives stressed in emails that they could not legally release the data.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Uber has since complied with all the data requirements, except for one, after it exhibited “outright defiance,” regulators alleged in September, in \u003ca href=\"http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDocs/Efile/G000/M154/K658/154658066.PDF\" target=\"_blank\">a written response\u003c/a> to the company’s appeal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Regulators said Uber submitted explanations that weren’t adequate for analysts to identify the cause of certain incidents in its report on problems with drivers. 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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"The reason we didn’t provide charts on all the data [is] we’re still evaluating the data and communicating with some of the companies on some of the data issues,\" Valerie Kao of the CPUC's Safety and Enforcement Division told the commission.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Collisions\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The numbers indicate collisions and incidents involving ride service drivers are climbing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"If it’s normalized by miles driven, you’d expect the number of incidents to be somewhat stable over time,\" said Matute. The increase is concerning, he said, \"because that would be indicative of TNCs being less safe as they scale up.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kao, the CPUC’s analyst, said most of the incidents were minor fender benders or rear-end collisions. The report listed the number of \"incidents/collisions\" involving pedestrians and bicyclists, though it did not highlight how many involved injuries or deaths.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>More than 300 of the “incidents” involved passengers opening doors into traffic. Ninety collisions were doorings of people on bikes, skateboards, motorcycles and scooters. 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CPUC officials did not immediately respond to questions about the data.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Evening Rides\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>More than 30 percent of all trips were taken in the evening, between 7 and 10 p.m., an indication that many are using the services for social outings, said Matute.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"People are using transportation network companies after the peak hours for transit service, when it's dark, when they might not feel comfortable bicycling,\" said Matute.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What was most interesting about the data to Matute was that 30 percent of rides were 3 miles and under, and nearly half of all trips cost $10 or less.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"That showed me that they were primarily trips where biking could have potentially been a viable option. 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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>Updated 3:15 p.m.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A reported attempted kidnapping by the driver of a Lyft car last night in San Francisco was a misunderstanding between the hard-of-hearing driver and his passenger, according to police, who say they're no longer investigating the incident.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The driver picked up the woman on Corbett Avenue near Mars Street at around 11:20 p.m. Police Department spokesman Officer Albie Esparza said the woman jumped out of the car, a silver Nissan Quest, when the driver headed in the opposite direction of the one she'd requested. The woman suffered a broken ankle.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Esparza said Friday afternoon that officers were able to reach the driver via TTY telephone -- a special telephone for the deaf.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"He never heard her say anything,\" Esparza said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The non-kidnapping was one of two incidents associated with ride-service firms that took place in the city overnight.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the second overnight incident, a man carjacked an Uber driver in the city's Glen Park neighborhood early Friday morning.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Police said the Uber driver was picking up a passenger on Monterey Boulevard and Diamond Street around 3:20 a.m. when a man opened the driver door and ordered the driver and a passenger out of the white Toyota Prius. The suspect, described only as a black male in his 20s, drove off, police said.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>Updated 3:15 p.m.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A reported attempted kidnapping by the driver of a Lyft car last night in San Francisco was a misunderstanding between the hard-of-hearing driver and his passenger, according to police, who say they're no longer investigating the incident.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The driver picked up the woman on Corbett Avenue near Mars Street at around 11:20 p.m. Police Department spokesman Officer Albie Esparza said the woman jumped out of the car, a silver Nissan Quest, when the driver headed in the opposite direction of the one she'd requested. The woman suffered a broken ankle.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Esparza said Friday afternoon that officers were able to reach the driver via TTY telephone -- a special telephone for the deaf.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"He never heard her say anything,\" Esparza said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The non-kidnapping was one of two incidents associated with ride-service firms that took place in the city overnight.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the second overnight incident, a man carjacked an Uber driver in the city's Glen Park neighborhood early Friday morning.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Police said the Uber driver was picking up a passenger on Monterey Boulevard and Diamond Street around 3:20 a.m. when a man opened the driver door and ordered the driver and a passenger out of the white Toyota Prius. The suspect, described only as a black male in his 20s, drove off, police said.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>San Francisco transportation officials adopted an alcohol and drug testing program for the city's 5,500 taxicab drivers Tuesday, but opted against complying with federal and state regulations that require drivers to be suspended if they test positive for marijuana.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency board of directors unanimously approved \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/sites/default/files/agendaitems/2015/10-20-15%20Item%2012%20Taxi%20Driver%20Drug%20and%20Alcohol%20Testing%20Policy.pdf\">the new policy\u003c/a>, but amended it so that drivers who do test positive for marijuana would keep their taxi permits if they show a valid medical marijuana recommendation from a doctor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Under the policy, taxi drivers must submit to drug and alcohol tests when they apply for taxi permits, renew the permits annually or get in a collision. They'll also be tested in cases where there's a \"reasonable suspicion\" that they're inebriated or intoxicated, said Kate Toran, the head of the SFMTA's taxi services division. A positive drug or alcohol test could lead to a suspension or a driver's permit could be revoked.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The city has been out of compliance with state regulations adopted in 1996 that require alcohol and drug testing of taxicab drivers. The new policy, which took six years to craft, would put the city \"mostly in compliance,\" said Toran.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Several taxi drivers testified that the policy, as originally proposed, was another example of how the cab industry is competing on an uneven playing field with ride services such as Uber and Lyft.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Drivers for transportation network companies, regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission, are not required to undergo the same kind of substance abuse testing and don't have to comply with more stringent local regulations. Limousine drivers, also regulated by the CPUC, are required to undergo drug testing similar to the SFMTA's new program.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In an interview, Hansu Kim, CEO of Flywheel Taxi, said the marijuana component would have put up another barrier of entry for taxi drivers and would have potentially caused more taxi drivers to defect to Uber or Lyft.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"You have people driving for Uber and Lyft who don't have to go through that filter of accountability. That's what I worry about,\" said Kim, who added that he has never had a driver who's been arrested for marijuana impairment. \"We believe in drug testing, and we want to make sure our drivers are not taking hard drugs.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One taxi driver testified she uses medical marijuana for back pain and suspects many others use it to cope with similar ailments caused by driving for long periods of time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dale Gieringer, executive director of the California chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, said the board should be skeptical about drug testing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Drug testing does not check for actual impairment. It tests for past use of drugs,\" he testified. \"There's not one study that says drug urine testing improves driving or workplace safety. There are many studies that show people who test positive for marijuana are no more dangerous than regular drivers.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The vote to exempt medical marijuana users was 4-2, with directors Malcolm Heinicke and Joél Ramos casting no votes. While he agreed testing is \"imprecise,\" Heinicke added that exempting medical marijuana users sent the wrong message about the city's taxi industry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"If someone is using medical marijuana, whether that's legal or not, they shouldn't be driving a car, especially with other people in it, while under the influence of that marijuana,\" said Heinicke. \"I'm not sure that a recommendation or prescription solves the safety issue.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Board members agreed that they would like to see a change in state law so that Uber and Lyft drivers are also required to undergo similar testing. A \u003ca href=\"http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160AB24\" target=\"_blank\">bill\u003c/a> by Assemblyman Adrin Nazarian, D-Los Angeles, which seeks tighter regulations on Uber and Lyft and would require random drug testing, is expected to be considered in the next legislative session after \u003ca href=\"http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-ab-24-bill-tnc-uber-lyft-20150305-story.html\" target=\"_blank\">failing last year.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The new drug and alcohol testing program adopted by the SFMTA will be operated by a contractor, Energetix Corp., and cost the agency an estimated $900,000 a year. It's scheduled to take effect in a month.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>San Francisco transportation officials adopted an alcohol and drug testing program for the city's 5,500 taxicab drivers Tuesday, but opted against complying with federal and state regulations that require drivers to be suspended if they test positive for marijuana.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency board of directors unanimously approved \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/sites/default/files/agendaitems/2015/10-20-15%20Item%2012%20Taxi%20Driver%20Drug%20and%20Alcohol%20Testing%20Policy.pdf\">the new policy\u003c/a>, but amended it so that drivers who do test positive for marijuana would keep their taxi permits if they show a valid medical marijuana recommendation from a doctor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Under the policy, taxi drivers must submit to drug and alcohol tests when they apply for taxi permits, renew the permits annually or get in a collision. They'll also be tested in cases where there's a \"reasonable suspicion\" that they're inebriated or intoxicated, said Kate Toran, the head of the SFMTA's taxi services division. A positive drug or alcohol test could lead to a suspension or a driver's permit could be revoked.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The city has been out of compliance with state regulations adopted in 1996 that require alcohol and drug testing of taxicab drivers. The new policy, which took six years to craft, would put the city \"mostly in compliance,\" said Toran.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Several taxi drivers testified that the policy, as originally proposed, was another example of how the cab industry is competing on an uneven playing field with ride services such as Uber and Lyft.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Drivers for transportation network companies, regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission, are not required to undergo the same kind of substance abuse testing and don't have to comply with more stringent local regulations. Limousine drivers, also regulated by the CPUC, are required to undergo drug testing similar to the SFMTA's new program.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In an interview, Hansu Kim, CEO of Flywheel Taxi, said the marijuana component would have put up another barrier of entry for taxi drivers and would have potentially caused more taxi drivers to defect to Uber or Lyft.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"You have people driving for Uber and Lyft who don't have to go through that filter of accountability. That's what I worry about,\" said Kim, who added that he has never had a driver who's been arrested for marijuana impairment. \"We believe in drug testing, and we want to make sure our drivers are not taking hard drugs.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One taxi driver testified she uses medical marijuana for back pain and suspects many others use it to cope with similar ailments caused by driving for long periods of time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dale Gieringer, executive director of the California chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, said the board should be skeptical about drug testing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Drug testing does not check for actual impairment. It tests for past use of drugs,\" he testified. \"There's not one study that says drug urine testing improves driving or workplace safety. There are many studies that show people who test positive for marijuana are no more dangerous than regular drivers.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The vote to exempt medical marijuana users was 4-2, with directors Malcolm Heinicke and Joél Ramos casting no votes. While he agreed testing is \"imprecise,\" Heinicke added that exempting medical marijuana users sent the wrong message about the city's taxi industry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"If someone is using medical marijuana, whether that's legal or not, they shouldn't be driving a car, especially with other people in it, while under the influence of that marijuana,\" said Heinicke. \"I'm not sure that a recommendation or prescription solves the safety issue.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Board members agreed that they would like to see a change in state law so that Uber and Lyft drivers are also required to undergo similar testing. A \u003ca href=\"http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160AB24\" target=\"_blank\">bill\u003c/a> by Assemblyman Adrin Nazarian, D-Los Angeles, which seeks tighter regulations on Uber and Lyft and would require random drug testing, is expected to be considered in the next legislative session after \u003ca href=\"http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-ab-24-bill-tnc-uber-lyft-20150305-story.html\" target=\"_blank\">failing last year.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The new drug and alcohol testing program adopted by the SFMTA will be operated by a contractor, Energetix Corp., and cost the agency an estimated $900,000 a year. It's scheduled to take effect in a month.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones on Monday approved the state's first auto insurance policy specifically for Lyft drivers who have a passenger in the car.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The policy, from MetLife Auto & Home insurance, is not the first approved in California for drivers working for Uber or Lyft -- \u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/news/2015/05/29/a-look-at-farmers-new-insurance-for-california-uber-and-lyft-drivers\">Farmers and Metromile have their own offerings\u003c/a> -- but it is the first to also cover drivers who have already accepted or picked up a passenger, a period that previously was covered only by the ride-hailing company.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>MetLife's policy, designed in collaboration with Lyft, would cover drivers over every stage of their trip.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In doing so, it seems designed to reduce confusion among drivers about how they're covered during what various stakeholders call Period 1.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[contextly_sidebar id=\"aCu4SF2jIDvVvzZPPFrnzfSLNEyW8Pph\"]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That's the interval of time in which drivers have their app open and are available to be matched with a customer, but have yet to accept the fare. An insurance gap during Period 1 came to light after the \u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/news/2014/01/27/lawyer-filing-suit-against-ride-service-company-uber-in-death-of-6-year-o/\">death of 6-year-old Sofia Liu\u003c/a>, who was hit by an UberX driver on New Year's Eve 2013. Uber said its $1 million insurance policy, required by the state, did not cover the accident because the driver was not on his way to or transporting a passenger.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Metlife's policy was first rolled out in Colorado in January, but was only approved to take effect in California starting this week.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lyft already offers a $1 million liability policy that takes effect when the driver accepts a ride from a passenger until the end of that ride, as well as a $100,000 contingent policy for Period 1. That policy only takes effect if the driver's personal insurance policy won't cover an accident in those circumstances.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>New California legislation requires drivers to be insured at all times when driving for a ride-hailing company. The insurance can be provided by the company, the driver or by a combination of the two.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones on Monday approved the state's first auto insurance policy specifically for Lyft drivers who have a passenger in the car.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The policy, from MetLife Auto & Home insurance, is not the first approved in California for drivers working for Uber or Lyft -- \u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/news/2015/05/29/a-look-at-farmers-new-insurance-for-california-uber-and-lyft-drivers\">Farmers and Metromile have their own offerings\u003c/a> -- but it is the first to also cover drivers who have already accepted or picked up a passenger, a period that previously was covered only by the ride-hailing company.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>MetLife's policy, designed in collaboration with Lyft, would cover drivers over every stage of their trip.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In doing so, it seems designed to reduce confusion among drivers about how they're covered during what various stakeholders call Period 1.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That's the interval of time in which drivers have their app open and are available to be matched with a customer, but have yet to accept the fare. An insurance gap during Period 1 came to light after the \u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/news/2014/01/27/lawyer-filing-suit-against-ride-service-company-uber-in-death-of-6-year-o/\">death of 6-year-old Sofia Liu\u003c/a>, who was hit by an UberX driver on New Year's Eve 2013. Uber said its $1 million insurance policy, required by the state, did not cover the accident because the driver was not on his way to or transporting a passenger.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"headTitle": "KQED Future of You | KQED Science",
"content": "\u003cp>For six months, Eliza Kinrose worked about ten hours a week delivering anything from cupcakes to art supplies to strangers’ homes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Shortly after quitting her steady job as a recruiter, Kinrose, 29, signed up to work for a new San Francisco-based mobile delivery service called \u003ca href=\"https://postmates.com/\">Postmates\u003c/a>. She made about $15 an hour for six months, which was just enough to scrape by until she launched a yoga business.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Postmates is just one of an explosion of “gig economy” or “on-demand economy” companies that connect people seeking services with sellers of those services in a few minutes’ time. Those who work for the gig economy do not receive health insurance, or any of the other social protections extended to employees. Unless they are employed elsewhere, they need to find and pay for these protections on their own.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But one evening, Kinrose received an email from Postmates about an intriguing free \"perk\" to help her find health insurance called \u003ca href=\"https://www.stridehealth.com/\">Stride Health.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Stride Health is a startup health insurance broker service, which makes recommendations about health plans that are tailored to people's needs. The company offers web and mobile services to assist customers once they've purchased a health plan, including premium payment reminders and guidance on whether they qualify for subsidies. Stride Health also shows customers how much scenarios, like asthma or heart disease, would affect their out of pocket costs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>San Francisco-based Stride Health is one of many startups taking advantage of new opportunities created by the \u003ca href=\"http://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/rights/\">Affordable Care Act\u003c/a> and the perceived failings of the federal and state marketplaces for individuals to buy health insurance. It is unique, however, in targeting gig economy workers like Kinrose. Uber, Postmates and Taskrabbit, three of the largest gig economy companies, market Stride Health's service to their workers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_48816\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 307px\">\u003cimg class=\" wp-image-48816\" src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2015/10/uber-sidecar-400x600.jpg\" alt=\"Many workers, like Rick Warren, drive for multiple companies, including Sidecar and Lyft. \" width=\"307\" height=\"461\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2015/10/uber-sidecar-400x600.jpg 400w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2015/10/uber-sidecar-787x1180.jpg 787w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2015/10/uber-sidecar-1180x1770.jpg 1180w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2015/10/uber-sidecar-960x1440.jpg 960w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2015/10/uber-sidecar.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 307px) 100vw, 307px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Many workers, like Rick Warren, drive for multiple companies, including Sidecar and Lyft.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Stride Health's involvement with the gig economy may signal a shift in attitudes and priorities. According to Stride Health CEO Noah Lang, Uber and the rest are starting to care about the needs of their workers. \"They want to make sure people don't end up in a tough spot by forgoing coverage,\" he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But critics of the gig economy say Stride Health is a bandaid solution, as workers are still on the hook to pay for their own health insurance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When we have a jobs-based social welfare system, some people get a combination of health care, disability and more,” said Ken Jacobs, chair of the Labor Center at UC Berkeley, who specializes in health care coverage and public policy. “In a world where people are operating separately from that, the safety net goes away.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>How Big Is the Gig Economy, Really?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In cities across the United States, anyone with a smartphone can order a meal from Postmates, a ride to work via Lyft or Uber, groceries on Instacart or a home cleaning on Handy. These services are so pervasive, with billions in total sales as a group that it’s hard to believe they only sprung up in the past five years.\u003c/p>\n\u003caside class=\"pullquote alignright\">“These marketplaces care about growing and maintaining their labor pool. But at the same time, they have to minimize their risks by not stepping over any of the lines.”\u003cbr>\n\u003ccite>Noah Lang, Stride Health cofounder and CEO\u003c/cite>\u003c/aside>\n\u003cp>The on-demand economy has been hailed as the next big thing, but labor economists say it still hasn’t made much of a dent in the overall U.S. economy. The idea may be disruptive to the status quo, but the most recent data suggests that Americans are no less likely to be self-employed than a decade ago.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The gig economy currently is not really even big enough to show up in the [national economic] data,” said Jacobs. “And unfortunately, we don’t yet have a good sense of how big it will be.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One promising trend, according to Jacobs, is that the companies are starting to release more data on their workers. In 2014, Uber collaborated with Princeton University economist Alan Kreuger on a report that determined the company had 160,000 “driver partners” in the United States. By contrast, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that there were some 230,000 taxi-drivers in the U.S. in 2012.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Uber may not show up in national data just yet, but it is having an outsized impact in politics and popular culture. Even the presidential candidates are taking a side: While Hilary Clinton says she wants to “crack down” on sharing economy abuses of workers, Jeb Bush was recently spotted hailing an Uber ride in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Independent\u003c/b>\u003cstrong> Contractors or Employees? \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>By targeting the gig economy, Stride Health has taken a central role in an ongoing debate between policymakers, investors, and litigators, about whether on-demand companies should be treating their workers as employees and paying their expenses, as well as providing health insurance and other benefits.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Uber, a San Francisco-based company that uses a smartphone app to link people needing car rides with drivers for hire who use their own vehicles, is currently facing a\u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/2015/09/23/uc-riverside-professor-slams-feds-stands-by-his-health-app/\"> looming class action lawsuit\u003c/a>. In the suit, three Uber drivers are collectively challenging the company on whether they should be considered employees under the law – and not independent contractors, as the company now classifies them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And in June, the California Labor Commission ruled against Uber in determining that an ex-driver was entitled to reimbursement for business expenses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Many drivers have included on their list of issues that they are on their own for health insurance,” said Shannon Liss-Riordan, of Boston, Mass. the lead plaintiff attorney in the class action lawsuit against Uber. Liss-Riordan is also taking aim against Uber’s main rival, Lyft, and has spoken to hundreds of people who drive for these companies. “These drivers are left in the cold,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>How the Uber case ends up could have national implications. If the company loses its class-action lawsuit and has to reclassify its drivers from independent contractors to employees, that would force the company to pay for things like expenses, and provide benefits to full-time drivers. One recent estimate is that Uber would need to \u003ca href=\"http://recode.net/2015/07/14/uber-could-have-to-pay-an-additional-209-million-to-reclassify-its-drivers-in-california/\">pay $209 million a year\u003c/a> to reclassify its drivers to employees – and that’s just in California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Not everyone believes that Uber and the rest have left anyone out in the cold.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_48815\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-48815\" src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2015/10/Uber-1-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"Lyft driver Deco Carter scanning for a fare.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2015/10/Uber-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2015/10/Uber-1-400x267.jpg 400w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2015/10/Uber-1-1180x787.jpg 1180w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2015/10/Uber-1.jpg 1920w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2015/10/Uber-1-960x640.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lyft driver Deco Carter scanning for a fare. \u003ccite>(Alan Toth/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>For one thing, the Affordable Care Act has relieved the burden for many drivers, as it provides subsidies for low-income people to buy health insurance independently. Uber's CEO Travis Kalanick reportedly referred to the ACA as \"huge\" for the gig economy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some policymakers envision a middle ground, where workers have some added protections but are not full employees. One idea is a new worker category called a \"dependent contractor,\" which is legal in Germany, Canada and other countries, but not in the United States.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>U.S. Senator Mark Warner, D-Virginia, has spent more than a year researching the on-demand economy. \u003ca href=\"http://onlabor.org/2015/06/22/a-new-category-of-worker-for-the-on-demand-economy/\">He has proposed \u003c/a>numerous paths forward to broker a peace in the legal wars, including the dependent contractor model. He has also proposed similar marketplaces to the Affordable Care Act for other key benefits, including workers' compensation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Warner doesn't agree that the ACA is a silver bullet for the gig economy, as these companies do not pay into it. Uber avoids providing health insurance to drivers, which it considers contractors, as the ACA mandates that only employers extend coverage to full-time employees. That’s a loophole that saves gig economy companies a lot of money.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Walking the Tightrope \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some \u003ca href=\"http://qz.com/299655/why-your-uber-driver-hates-uber/\">critics of Uber have painted the company’s top executives as indifferent to the plight of workers\u003c/a>. But by providing services to workers, these companies risk adding fuel to the legal argument that they should be employees and not independent contractors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://docs.procurement.ku.edu/departmental_policies/Independent_Contractor_Excerpts.pdf\">The I.R.S. has about twenty factors\u003c/a> that it takes into account when determining a worker classification. One important distinction is how much \"control\" an employer has over the work that's being done, but it's not always clear what control means.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Essentially, this [partnership with Stride Health] is about how these workers can get health care without exposing Uber and the rest to liability or responsibility,” said UC Berkeley’s Jacobs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_48819\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-48819\" src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2015/10/IMG_1692-800x600.jpg\" alt=\"Stride Health's founders Noah Lang (left) and Matt Butner (right) \" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2015/10/IMG_1692-800x600.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2015/10/IMG_1692-400x300.jpg 400w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2015/10/IMG_1692-1180x885.jpg 1180w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2015/10/IMG_1692-1920x1440.jpg 1920w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2015/10/IMG_1692-960x720.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Stride Health's founders Noah Lang (left) and Matt Butner (right) \u003ccite>(Christina Farr/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Lang doesn’t totally disagree, but paints the partnership in a more positive light: “These marketplaces care about growing and maintaining their labor pool,” he said. “But at the same time, they have to minimize their risks by not stepping over any of the lines.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If these companies do nothing, their practices may draw fire from policymakers. An uninsured and at-risk population is likely to incur major health costs in the long-term, costs that could eventually be borne by taxpayers. According to Lang, about 40 percent of gig economy workers surveyed by Stride Health said they would \"not have gotten coverage otherwise.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Stride Health seems to be a safe solution for the gig economy companies. It is unclear how many workers are using the tool, but Uber said it is helping those who are uninsured drivers find an affordable health plan. And drivers seem to like it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Finding affordable, effective health insurance is top of mind for many drivers,\" an Uber spokesperson said in a press release. A spokesperson for Taskrabbit said the company “vetted other options” but ultimately opted to partner with Stride due to the “thoughtful approach for independent contractors.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Postmates declined to comment on its reasons for partnering with Stride. \u003cspan class=\"s1\">Uber and Taskrabbit emailed statements that could not be attributed to any company official. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Will On-Demand Companies Ever Provide Health Insurance to Workers?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Critics of the on-demand economy say that Uber and the rest are the latest in a long line of companies that use fancy wordplay and questionable tactics to avoid protecting workers. These legal battles go back decades, with FedEx most recently settling a lawsuit with drivers who claimed they had been misclassified.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Uber tries to argue that it’s not in the car service industry; it’s a technology platform,” said Liss-Riordan in an interview. “The court rejected that.”\u003c/p>\n\u003caside class=\"pullquote alignright\">“Some folks are working part-time for other jobs. Others have not had health insurance in a long time and need extra help navigating their options.\"\u003cbr>\n\u003ccite>An Uber spokesperson\u003c/cite>\u003c/aside>\n\u003cp>Some on-demand economy companies are now taking steps to reclassify their workers as employees, including \u003ca href=\"http://www.doctorondemand.com/\">Doctor on Demand\u003c/a>, a company that connects people with doctors online in a matter of minutes, as well as mobile delivery services Instacart and Shyp.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Lang is doubtful that this will trigger a shift for the on-demand economy at large. As Lang points out, Uber’s labor pool is much larger than \u003ca href=\"http://www.businessinsider.com/why-instacart-is-reclassifing-some-of-its-workers-as-employees-2015-6\">an Instarcart\u003c/a> or Shyp and its workers are not specialized like Doctor on Demand’s physicians – all they need is a drivers’ license. “I give Shyp and Instacart kudos, of course,” he said, “but it’s also opportunistic for them.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A change in federal law or a landmark Supreme Court ruling might force Uber, Lyft and others to treat their workers as employees. This wouldn’t mean that every driver would receive employee-sponsored health insurance overnight.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dan Diamond, executive editor for the research and consulting firm \u003ca href=\"https://www.advisory.com/\">The Advisory Board\u003c/a>, has written about how Uber would handle the health care problem if its drivers were considered employees. Diamond does not believe that workers would immediately benefit from a reclassification.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Uber might opt to avoid providing health insurance by paying a fee under the Affordable Care Act (a requirement if businesses do not provide health insurance to employees who work more than 30 hours per week). It might also cap workers’ at 29 hours per week to keep them part-time employees.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Diamond expects that Uber will use every weapon in its arsenal to avoid such an outcome. “For Uber, none of these options are ideal.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Deco Carter, a Bay Area-based Lyft driver, said he “knew the risks” when he joined the growing ranks of gig economy workers. He has been involved in two auto accidents, and lacked income for several weeks until he got his car fixed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"I really didn't have anything to fall back on,\" he said. \"If it wasn't for my fiancé, I don't know what I would have done.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the years ahead, he hopes that Lyft would consider extending benefits to drivers, particularly to those who work full-time hours. Lyft is not currently working with Stride Health, but it drivers have access to an alternative service called the eHealth marketplace. A spokesperson denied requests from KQED for an interview.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But while executives at these companies may want to do more to protect workers, they are also under pressure to protect their bottom line. It would be highly expensive for them to reclassify workers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most experts are watching the presidential race as an indicator of what’s to come.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“My fear is that we’ll either re-classify everyone as an employee or trust the unfettered hand of capitalism,” said Warner. “Before that happens, I’m hoping those of us who are thinking about this in a bipartisan fashion can come up with some policy ideas that might be embraced by both sides.”\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"excerpt": "A startup called Stride Health is working with Uber, Taskrabbit and Postmates to help their workers find affordable health insurance. Is it enough?",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>For six months, Eliza Kinrose worked about ten hours a week delivering anything from cupcakes to art supplies to strangers’ homes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Shortly after quitting her steady job as a recruiter, Kinrose, 29, signed up to work for a new San Francisco-based mobile delivery service called \u003ca href=\"https://postmates.com/\">Postmates\u003c/a>. She made about $15 an hour for six months, which was just enough to scrape by until she launched a yoga business.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Postmates is just one of an explosion of “gig economy” or “on-demand economy” companies that connect people seeking services with sellers of those services in a few minutes’ time. Those who work for the gig economy do not receive health insurance, or any of the other social protections extended to employees. Unless they are employed elsewhere, they need to find and pay for these protections on their own.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But one evening, Kinrose received an email from Postmates about an intriguing free \"perk\" to help her find health insurance called \u003ca href=\"https://www.stridehealth.com/\">Stride Health.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Stride Health is a startup health insurance broker service, which makes recommendations about health plans that are tailored to people's needs. The company offers web and mobile services to assist customers once they've purchased a health plan, including premium payment reminders and guidance on whether they qualify for subsidies. Stride Health also shows customers how much scenarios, like asthma or heart disease, would affect their out of pocket costs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>San Francisco-based Stride Health is one of many startups taking advantage of new opportunities created by the \u003ca href=\"http://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/rights/\">Affordable Care Act\u003c/a> and the perceived failings of the federal and state marketplaces for individuals to buy health insurance. It is unique, however, in targeting gig economy workers like Kinrose. Uber, Postmates and Taskrabbit, three of the largest gig economy companies, market Stride Health's service to their workers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_48816\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 307px\">\u003cimg class=\" wp-image-48816\" src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2015/10/uber-sidecar-400x600.jpg\" alt=\"Many workers, like Rick Warren, drive for multiple companies, including Sidecar and Lyft. \" width=\"307\" height=\"461\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2015/10/uber-sidecar-400x600.jpg 400w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2015/10/uber-sidecar-787x1180.jpg 787w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2015/10/uber-sidecar-1180x1770.jpg 1180w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2015/10/uber-sidecar-960x1440.jpg 960w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2015/10/uber-sidecar.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 307px) 100vw, 307px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Many workers, like Rick Warren, drive for multiple companies, including Sidecar and Lyft.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Stride Health's involvement with the gig economy may signal a shift in attitudes and priorities. According to Stride Health CEO Noah Lang, Uber and the rest are starting to care about the needs of their workers. \"They want to make sure people don't end up in a tough spot by forgoing coverage,\" he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But critics of the gig economy say Stride Health is a bandaid solution, as workers are still on the hook to pay for their own health insurance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When we have a jobs-based social welfare system, some people get a combination of health care, disability and more,” said Ken Jacobs, chair of the Labor Center at UC Berkeley, who specializes in health care coverage and public policy. “In a world where people are operating separately from that, the safety net goes away.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>How Big Is the Gig Economy, Really?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In cities across the United States, anyone with a smartphone can order a meal from Postmates, a ride to work via Lyft or Uber, groceries on Instacart or a home cleaning on Handy. These services are so pervasive, with billions in total sales as a group that it’s hard to believe they only sprung up in the past five years.\u003c/p>\n\u003caside class=\"pullquote alignright\">“These marketplaces care about growing and maintaining their labor pool. But at the same time, they have to minimize their risks by not stepping over any of the lines.”\u003cbr>\n\u003ccite>Noah Lang, Stride Health cofounder and CEO\u003c/cite>\u003c/aside>\n\u003cp>The on-demand economy has been hailed as the next big thing, but labor economists say it still hasn’t made much of a dent in the overall U.S. economy. The idea may be disruptive to the status quo, but the most recent data suggests that Americans are no less likely to be self-employed than a decade ago.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The gig economy currently is not really even big enough to show up in the [national economic] data,” said Jacobs. “And unfortunately, we don’t yet have a good sense of how big it will be.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One promising trend, according to Jacobs, is that the companies are starting to release more data on their workers. In 2014, Uber collaborated with Princeton University economist Alan Kreuger on a report that determined the company had 160,000 “driver partners” in the United States. By contrast, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that there were some 230,000 taxi-drivers in the U.S. in 2012.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Uber may not show up in national data just yet, but it is having an outsized impact in politics and popular culture. Even the presidential candidates are taking a side: While Hilary Clinton says she wants to “crack down” on sharing economy abuses of workers, Jeb Bush was recently spotted hailing an Uber ride in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Independent\u003c/b>\u003cstrong> Contractors or Employees? \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>By targeting the gig economy, Stride Health has taken a central role in an ongoing debate between policymakers, investors, and litigators, about whether on-demand companies should be treating their workers as employees and paying their expenses, as well as providing health insurance and other benefits.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Uber, a San Francisco-based company that uses a smartphone app to link people needing car rides with drivers for hire who use their own vehicles, is currently facing a\u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/2015/09/23/uc-riverside-professor-slams-feds-stands-by-his-health-app/\"> looming class action lawsuit\u003c/a>. In the suit, three Uber drivers are collectively challenging the company on whether they should be considered employees under the law – and not independent contractors, as the company now classifies them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And in June, the California Labor Commission ruled against Uber in determining that an ex-driver was entitled to reimbursement for business expenses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Many drivers have included on their list of issues that they are on their own for health insurance,” said Shannon Liss-Riordan, of Boston, Mass. the lead plaintiff attorney in the class action lawsuit against Uber. Liss-Riordan is also taking aim against Uber’s main rival, Lyft, and has spoken to hundreds of people who drive for these companies. “These drivers are left in the cold,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>How the Uber case ends up could have national implications. If the company loses its class-action lawsuit and has to reclassify its drivers from independent contractors to employees, that would force the company to pay for things like expenses, and provide benefits to full-time drivers. One recent estimate is that Uber would need to \u003ca href=\"http://recode.net/2015/07/14/uber-could-have-to-pay-an-additional-209-million-to-reclassify-its-drivers-in-california/\">pay $209 million a year\u003c/a> to reclassify its drivers to employees – and that’s just in California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Not everyone believes that Uber and the rest have left anyone out in the cold.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_48815\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-48815\" src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2015/10/Uber-1-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"Lyft driver Deco Carter scanning for a fare.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2015/10/Uber-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2015/10/Uber-1-400x267.jpg 400w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2015/10/Uber-1-1180x787.jpg 1180w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2015/10/Uber-1.jpg 1920w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2015/10/Uber-1-960x640.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lyft driver Deco Carter scanning for a fare. \u003ccite>(Alan Toth/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>For one thing, the Affordable Care Act has relieved the burden for many drivers, as it provides subsidies for low-income people to buy health insurance independently. Uber's CEO Travis Kalanick reportedly referred to the ACA as \"huge\" for the gig economy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some policymakers envision a middle ground, where workers have some added protections but are not full employees. One idea is a new worker category called a \"dependent contractor,\" which is legal in Germany, Canada and other countries, but not in the United States.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>U.S. Senator Mark Warner, D-Virginia, has spent more than a year researching the on-demand economy. \u003ca href=\"http://onlabor.org/2015/06/22/a-new-category-of-worker-for-the-on-demand-economy/\">He has proposed \u003c/a>numerous paths forward to broker a peace in the legal wars, including the dependent contractor model. He has also proposed similar marketplaces to the Affordable Care Act for other key benefits, including workers' compensation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Warner doesn't agree that the ACA is a silver bullet for the gig economy, as these companies do not pay into it. Uber avoids providing health insurance to drivers, which it considers contractors, as the ACA mandates that only employers extend coverage to full-time employees. That’s a loophole that saves gig economy companies a lot of money.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Walking the Tightrope \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some \u003ca href=\"http://qz.com/299655/why-your-uber-driver-hates-uber/\">critics of Uber have painted the company’s top executives as indifferent to the plight of workers\u003c/a>. But by providing services to workers, these companies risk adding fuel to the legal argument that they should be employees and not independent contractors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://docs.procurement.ku.edu/departmental_policies/Independent_Contractor_Excerpts.pdf\">The I.R.S. has about twenty factors\u003c/a> that it takes into account when determining a worker classification. One important distinction is how much \"control\" an employer has over the work that's being done, but it's not always clear what control means.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Essentially, this [partnership with Stride Health] is about how these workers can get health care without exposing Uber and the rest to liability or responsibility,” said UC Berkeley’s Jacobs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_48819\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-48819\" src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2015/10/IMG_1692-800x600.jpg\" alt=\"Stride Health's founders Noah Lang (left) and Matt Butner (right) \" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2015/10/IMG_1692-800x600.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2015/10/IMG_1692-400x300.jpg 400w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2015/10/IMG_1692-1180x885.jpg 1180w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2015/10/IMG_1692-1920x1440.jpg 1920w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2015/10/IMG_1692-960x720.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Stride Health's founders Noah Lang (left) and Matt Butner (right) \u003ccite>(Christina Farr/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Lang doesn’t totally disagree, but paints the partnership in a more positive light: “These marketplaces care about growing and maintaining their labor pool,” he said. “But at the same time, they have to minimize their risks by not stepping over any of the lines.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If these companies do nothing, their practices may draw fire from policymakers. An uninsured and at-risk population is likely to incur major health costs in the long-term, costs that could eventually be borne by taxpayers. According to Lang, about 40 percent of gig economy workers surveyed by Stride Health said they would \"not have gotten coverage otherwise.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Stride Health seems to be a safe solution for the gig economy companies. It is unclear how many workers are using the tool, but Uber said it is helping those who are uninsured drivers find an affordable health plan. And drivers seem to like it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Finding affordable, effective health insurance is top of mind for many drivers,\" an Uber spokesperson said in a press release. A spokesperson for Taskrabbit said the company “vetted other options” but ultimately opted to partner with Stride due to the “thoughtful approach for independent contractors.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Postmates declined to comment on its reasons for partnering with Stride. \u003cspan class=\"s1\">Uber and Taskrabbit emailed statements that could not be attributed to any company official. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Will On-Demand Companies Ever Provide Health Insurance to Workers?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Critics of the on-demand economy say that Uber and the rest are the latest in a long line of companies that use fancy wordplay and questionable tactics to avoid protecting workers. These legal battles go back decades, with FedEx most recently settling a lawsuit with drivers who claimed they had been misclassified.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Uber tries to argue that it’s not in the car service industry; it’s a technology platform,” said Liss-Riordan in an interview. “The court rejected that.”\u003c/p>\n\u003caside class=\"pullquote alignright\">“Some folks are working part-time for other jobs. Others have not had health insurance in a long time and need extra help navigating their options.\"\u003cbr>\n\u003ccite>An Uber spokesperson\u003c/cite>\u003c/aside>\n\u003cp>Some on-demand economy companies are now taking steps to reclassify their workers as employees, including \u003ca href=\"http://www.doctorondemand.com/\">Doctor on Demand\u003c/a>, a company that connects people with doctors online in a matter of minutes, as well as mobile delivery services Instacart and Shyp.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Lang is doubtful that this will trigger a shift for the on-demand economy at large. As Lang points out, Uber’s labor pool is much larger than \u003ca href=\"http://www.businessinsider.com/why-instacart-is-reclassifing-some-of-its-workers-as-employees-2015-6\">an Instarcart\u003c/a> or Shyp and its workers are not specialized like Doctor on Demand’s physicians – all they need is a drivers’ license. “I give Shyp and Instacart kudos, of course,” he said, “but it’s also opportunistic for them.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A change in federal law or a landmark Supreme Court ruling might force Uber, Lyft and others to treat their workers as employees. This wouldn’t mean that every driver would receive employee-sponsored health insurance overnight.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dan Diamond, executive editor for the research and consulting firm \u003ca href=\"https://www.advisory.com/\">The Advisory Board\u003c/a>, has written about how Uber would handle the health care problem if its drivers were considered employees. Diamond does not believe that workers would immediately benefit from a reclassification.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Uber might opt to avoid providing health insurance by paying a fee under the Affordable Care Act (a requirement if businesses do not provide health insurance to employees who work more than 30 hours per week). It might also cap workers’ at 29 hours per week to keep them part-time employees.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Diamond expects that Uber will use every weapon in its arsenal to avoid such an outcome. “For Uber, none of these options are ideal.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Deco Carter, a Bay Area-based Lyft driver, said he “knew the risks” when he joined the growing ranks of gig economy workers. He has been involved in two auto accidents, and lacked income for several weeks until he got his car fixed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"I really didn't have anything to fall back on,\" he said. \"If it wasn't for my fiancé, I don't know what I would have done.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the years ahead, he hopes that Lyft would consider extending benefits to drivers, particularly to those who work full-time hours. Lyft is not currently working with Stride Health, but it drivers have access to an alternative service called the eHealth marketplace. A spokesperson denied requests from KQED for an interview.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But while executives at these companies may want to do more to protect workers, they are also under pressure to protect their bottom line. It would be highly expensive for them to reclassify workers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most experts are watching the presidential race as an indicator of what’s to come.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“My fear is that we’ll either re-classify everyone as an employee or trust the unfettered hand of capitalism,” said Warner. “Before that happens, I’m hoping those of us who are thinking about this in a bipartisan fashion can come up with some policy ideas that might be embraced by both sides.”\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>A federal judge in San Francisco \u003ca href=\"http://www.cand.uscourts.gov/EMC/OConnorvUberTechnologies\">has ruled\u003c/a> that a lawsuit by a group of Uber drivers seeking to be classified as employees instead of independent contractors can move forward as a class action against the company.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>U.S. District Court Judge Edward Chen said the key question before him was whether drivers' working relationships with Uber were \"sufficiently similar so that a jury can resolve [their] legal claims all at once.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In a 68-page ruling, Chen called a number of Uber's arguments -- including that its drivers are too diverse to be considered a class -- \"problematic.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While the case could potentially affect 160,000 California Uber drivers, Chen excluded drivers who signed a 2014 arbitration clause. With that group excluded, he ruled the class will include UberBlack, UberX and UberSUV drivers who signed up with the company and were paid as individuals over the past six years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Shannon Liss-Riordan, a Boston-based labor attorney who represents the drivers, said that means most California drivers who worked for Uber before May 2014 could be included.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"This decision is a major victory for Uber drivers,\" Liss-Riordan said. \"It will allow thousands of Uber drivers to participate in this case to challenge their misclassification as independent contractors.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>An Uber spokeswoman, Natalia Montalvo, interpreted the class certification in an email as applying to \"a tiny fraction of the class that the plaintiffs were seeking.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"We'll most likely appeal the decision as partners use Uber on their own terms, and there really is not a typical driver, the key question at issue,\" Montalvo said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Last month, before the federal court hearing on class certification, Uber attorney Ted Boutrous accused the three drivers who are lead plaintiffs of \"acting against the interest of the very people they seek to represent.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Boutrous, surrounded by about a dozen Uber drivers, repeated Uber's position that drivers like being independent contractors because it allows them freedom over their schedules.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But after that hearing Liss-Riordan stressed, in an interview with reporters, that drivers aren't entitled to basic wage protections, unemployment pay if they are terminated, or workers compensation if they're injured on the job.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Everyone understands the flexibility. We understand that. That's the reason why a lot of drivers do it,\" she said. \"But that doesn't mean they're not entitled to the protections of employment when they're doing their work.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Liss-Riordan said there's no reason why the flexibility couldn't continue if the suit prevails. Chen seemed to concur in his ruling: \"Uber has not definitely established that all (or even much) of this 'flexibility' would necessarily be lost, nor has Uber even established that a victory for Plaintiffs in this lawsuit would require Uber to use 'less flexible' work schedules going forward.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As \u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/news/2015/08/06/judge-to-consider-expanding-drivers-lawsuit-against-uber\">we've written\u003c/a>, if the suit is successful it could have sweeping consequences for Uber, threatening the company's business model that relies on drivers to pay their own expenses and work as independent contractors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The three drivers are seeking reimbursement for those expenses, including gas and car maintenance, as well as tips that Liss-Riordan said were advertised to customers as being included in the fare but not distributed to drivers. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If drivers become employees, Uber would be required to pay expenses -- under California's wage law -- withhold taxes and pay for unemployment, Social Security and workers compensation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pending the outcome of any appeal of Tuesday's ruling, the case is expected to go to trial sometime next year.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>A federal judge in San Francisco \u003ca href=\"http://www.cand.uscourts.gov/EMC/OConnorvUberTechnologies\">has ruled\u003c/a> that a lawsuit by a group of Uber drivers seeking to be classified as employees instead of independent contractors can move forward as a class action against the company.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>U.S. District Court Judge Edward Chen said the key question before him was whether drivers' working relationships with Uber were \"sufficiently similar so that a jury can resolve [their] legal claims all at once.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In a 68-page ruling, Chen called a number of Uber's arguments -- including that its drivers are too diverse to be considered a class -- \"problematic.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While the case could potentially affect 160,000 California Uber drivers, Chen excluded drivers who signed a 2014 arbitration clause. With that group excluded, he ruled the class will include UberBlack, UberX and UberSUV drivers who signed up with the company and were paid as individuals over the past six years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Shannon Liss-Riordan, a Boston-based labor attorney who represents the drivers, said that means most California drivers who worked for Uber before May 2014 could be included.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"This decision is a major victory for Uber drivers,\" Liss-Riordan said. \"It will allow thousands of Uber drivers to participate in this case to challenge their misclassification as independent contractors.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>An Uber spokeswoman, Natalia Montalvo, interpreted the class certification in an email as applying to \"a tiny fraction of the class that the plaintiffs were seeking.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"We'll most likely appeal the decision as partners use Uber on their own terms, and there really is not a typical driver, the key question at issue,\" Montalvo said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Last month, before the federal court hearing on class certification, Uber attorney Ted Boutrous accused the three drivers who are lead plaintiffs of \"acting against the interest of the very people they seek to represent.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Boutrous, surrounded by about a dozen Uber drivers, repeated Uber's position that drivers like being independent contractors because it allows them freedom over their schedules.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But after that hearing Liss-Riordan stressed, in an interview with reporters, that drivers aren't entitled to basic wage protections, unemployment pay if they are terminated, or workers compensation if they're injured on the job.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Everyone understands the flexibility. We understand that. That's the reason why a lot of drivers do it,\" she said. \"But that doesn't mean they're not entitled to the protections of employment when they're doing their work.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Liss-Riordan said there's no reason why the flexibility couldn't continue if the suit prevails. Chen seemed to concur in his ruling: \"Uber has not definitely established that all (or even much) of this 'flexibility' would necessarily be lost, nor has Uber even established that a victory for Plaintiffs in this lawsuit would require Uber to use 'less flexible' work schedules going forward.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As \u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/news/2015/08/06/judge-to-consider-expanding-drivers-lawsuit-against-uber\">we've written\u003c/a>, if the suit is successful it could have sweeping consequences for Uber, threatening the company's business model that relies on drivers to pay their own expenses and work as independent contractors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The three drivers are seeking reimbursement for those expenses, including gas and car maintenance, as well as tips that Liss-Riordan said were advertised to customers as being included in the fare but not distributed to drivers. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If drivers become employees, Uber would be required to pay expenses -- under California's wage law -- withhold taxes and pay for unemployment, Social Security and workers compensation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pending the outcome of any appeal of Tuesday's ruling, the case is expected to go to trial sometime next year.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"disqusTitle": "A Look at Farmers' New Insurance For California Uber and Lyft Drivers",
"title": "A Look at Farmers' New Insurance For California Uber and Lyft Drivers",
"headTitle": "The California Report | KQED News",
"content": "\u003cp>Never mind the state regulations, the sky-high valuations and the fact that a character on a recent \"Veep\" mentioned catching an Uber. Maybe an indication that any concept has entered the fabric of mainstream American society is that you can get it insured.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Uber Communications Director Eva Behrend didn't say that exactly, yesterday -- the first day that all transportation network company drivers in the state could purchase insurance for the commercial activities going on in their vehicles. But she hinted at broad acceptance of the ride-service model when she said, “We believe this is another way that people are recognizing that ride-sharing is part of California’s economy.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The new insurance is offered by Farmers as a supplement -- called an endorsement -- to drivers' personal auto policies, and it will cost an additional 8 percent of their premium. A smaller insurer, MetroMile, already offers \u003ca href=\"https://www.metromile.com/uber/\" target=\"_blank\">individual ride-service insurance\u003c/a>, but it's exclusive to Uber drivers. That insurance costs a base rate plus a per-mile charge.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But now drivers for Lyft, Sidecar or any other TNC can buy insurance to cover what various stakeholders call Period 1. That's the interval of time that drivers have their app open and are available to be matched with a customer, but have yet to accept the fare. An insurance gap during this interval came to light after the death of 6-year-old Sofia Liu, who was hit by an UberX driver on New Year's Eve, 2013. Uber said its $1 million insurance policy, required by the state, did not cover the accident because the driver was not on his way to or transporting a passenger.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since then, California has \u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/news/09/02/2014/Uber_Lyft_California_insurance/\" target=\"_blank\">enacted AB2293\u003c/a>, which goes into effect July 1 and requires all ride-service companies to offer liability insurance for Period 1 of at least $50,000 per individual and $100,000 total per incident for bodily injury, and $30,000 for property damage. An additional $200,000 in excess coverage is also required. Behrend of Uber, by far the largest TNC (it claims 20,000 drivers in the Bay Area alone) says the company is on schedule to meet all those requirements.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But drivers have been incurring all sorts of risks when they use their personal vehicles for TNC work. During Period 1, Uber and Lyft do not offer collision (coverage for when the policyholder is at fault), comprehensive (for fire, theft and other damage), underinsured motorist coverage or medical payments. (They also do not offer those coverages for the succeeding periods, unless drivers carry them on their personal policies).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones thinks that's a problem.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Liability coverage (offered by Lyft and Uber) doesn’t include coverage for repair of your vehicle, damage to your vehicle which may occur outside of an accident, for medical costs you might incur if you’re injured … nor does it include uninsured and underinsured coverage, where even if the other person is at fault and they don’t have insurance, then you'll have recourse to nothing. All those are not required by law.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, while earlier versions of regulations proposed by the California Public Utilities Commission did require TNCs to offer those additional coverages, the only option now for drivers who want the full boat of insurance is to buy it from an insurer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"We’re encouraging other insurers to file policies with us,\" Jones said. \"We’d like to see more products offered.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>More Details on Farmers Policy\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Farmers' head of innovation, Mariel Devesa, explained to me Thursday what you can and cannot do regarding its new ride-service product.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>If your personal auto insurance is with another company, you'll have to switch to Farmers. The product is not a stand-alone TNC policy, but a hybrid personal-commercial product.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>You can't mix and match coverage amounts for personal time in your car and your time doing TNC work. The policy add-on will be a straight extension of your existing personal policy with Farmers. So, for example, if you are covered for $30,000 in comprehensive and $30,000 in collision on your personal policy, you can't up those amounts for your TNC add-on, even if you think the risk is greater during that period. You can, however, increase the amount on your underlying personal policy, which will then carry over into your TNC work.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Likewise, you can't carry one category of coverage on your personal policy and another on the ride-service endorsement, and vice versa. If you have collision and underinsured motorist, for example, on your personal policy, that's what you must carry for the TNC portion.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Devesa said Farmers structured it this way so the policy's transition from personal to commercial insurance would be as seamless as possible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Coming out of the Insurance Shadows? \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One of the things we've heard over and over again from TNC drivers is that they have not informed their insurance company of what they do, for \u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/news/2013/11/14/can-lyft-uberx-drivers-lose-their-insurance\" target=\"_blank\">fear of losing their personal coverage\u003c/a>. Although only a handful of reports have surfaced of this actually occurring, the word among drivers is that it's a definite risk.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mike Banko, who's been driving for Lyft since December 2012, is typical of that \"don't ask, don't tell\" attitude.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"I've been with my insurance company for the past 16 years,\" he said. \"I never have disclosed to them I do ride-share, but they also have never asked.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Does he worry about that?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"I do believe they would cover me during a Period 1 accident, but I think they may then drop me. But I’m not 100 percent sure.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Banko said he'd feel less exposed if he could be proactively honest with his insurance company, and he said he intended to get a quote from Farmers, which he's not insured with, as soon as possible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I also asked John Han, a longtime San Francisco cab driver, if he'd now consider making the switch to a TNC, because he'd gone partially down that road a couple of years ago, abandoning the attempt because he couldn't get coverage whenever he told an insurer he intended to use his vehicle for ride-service work.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Han said no dice, not in 2015.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"That was the case in late 2013, early 2014. I couldn’t get insurance and that was the deal breaker. But since then, \u003ca href=\"http://fortune.com/2014/05/28/in-price-wars-some-uber-and-lyft-drivers-feel-the-crunch/\" target=\"_blank\">Uber and Lyft have gotten into their price war\u003c/a>. So if I'd made the switch back then, I could be expected to make the same amount of money per ride, approximately (as from driving a taxi). But now they’ve made their prices so low, that even with this new insurance product, there’s more to consider. I think nowadays some cab drivers may be making more than the average TNC driver, and that was not the case before.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Is that true? Well, Mike Banko, for one, says he now makes about half of what he used to as a Lyft driver.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But that's another story.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Never mind the state regulations, the sky-high valuations and the fact that a character on a recent \"Veep\" mentioned catching an Uber. Maybe an indication that any concept has entered the fabric of mainstream American society is that you can get it insured.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Uber Communications Director Eva Behrend didn't say that exactly, yesterday -- the first day that all transportation network company drivers in the state could purchase insurance for the commercial activities going on in their vehicles. But she hinted at broad acceptance of the ride-service model when she said, “We believe this is another way that people are recognizing that ride-sharing is part of California’s economy.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The new insurance is offered by Farmers as a supplement -- called an endorsement -- to drivers' personal auto policies, and it will cost an additional 8 percent of their premium. A smaller insurer, MetroMile, already offers \u003ca href=\"https://www.metromile.com/uber/\" target=\"_blank\">individual ride-service insurance\u003c/a>, but it's exclusive to Uber drivers. That insurance costs a base rate plus a per-mile charge.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But now drivers for Lyft, Sidecar or any other TNC can buy insurance to cover what various stakeholders call Period 1. That's the interval of time that drivers have their app open and are available to be matched with a customer, but have yet to accept the fare. An insurance gap during this interval came to light after the death of 6-year-old Sofia Liu, who was hit by an UberX driver on New Year's Eve, 2013. Uber said its $1 million insurance policy, required by the state, did not cover the accident because the driver was not on his way to or transporting a passenger.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since then, California has \u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/news/09/02/2014/Uber_Lyft_California_insurance/\" target=\"_blank\">enacted AB2293\u003c/a>, which goes into effect July 1 and requires all ride-service companies to offer liability insurance for Period 1 of at least $50,000 per individual and $100,000 total per incident for bodily injury, and $30,000 for property damage. An additional $200,000 in excess coverage is also required. Behrend of Uber, by far the largest TNC (it claims 20,000 drivers in the Bay Area alone) says the company is on schedule to meet all those requirements.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But drivers have been incurring all sorts of risks when they use their personal vehicles for TNC work. During Period 1, Uber and Lyft do not offer collision (coverage for when the policyholder is at fault), comprehensive (for fire, theft and other damage), underinsured motorist coverage or medical payments. (They also do not offer those coverages for the succeeding periods, unless drivers carry them on their personal policies).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones thinks that's a problem.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Liability coverage (offered by Lyft and Uber) doesn’t include coverage for repair of your vehicle, damage to your vehicle which may occur outside of an accident, for medical costs you might incur if you’re injured … nor does it include uninsured and underinsured coverage, where even if the other person is at fault and they don’t have insurance, then you'll have recourse to nothing. All those are not required by law.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, while earlier versions of regulations proposed by the California Public Utilities Commission did require TNCs to offer those additional coverages, the only option now for drivers who want the full boat of insurance is to buy it from an insurer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"We’re encouraging other insurers to file policies with us,\" Jones said. \"We’d like to see more products offered.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>More Details on Farmers Policy\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Farmers' head of innovation, Mariel Devesa, explained to me Thursday what you can and cannot do regarding its new ride-service product.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>If your personal auto insurance is with another company, you'll have to switch to Farmers. The product is not a stand-alone TNC policy, but a hybrid personal-commercial product.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>You can't mix and match coverage amounts for personal time in your car and your time doing TNC work. The policy add-on will be a straight extension of your existing personal policy with Farmers. So, for example, if you are covered for $30,000 in comprehensive and $30,000 in collision on your personal policy, you can't up those amounts for your TNC add-on, even if you think the risk is greater during that period. You can, however, increase the amount on your underlying personal policy, which will then carry over into your TNC work.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Likewise, you can't carry one category of coverage on your personal policy and another on the ride-service endorsement, and vice versa. If you have collision and underinsured motorist, for example, on your personal policy, that's what you must carry for the TNC portion.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Devesa said Farmers structured it this way so the policy's transition from personal to commercial insurance would be as seamless as possible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Coming out of the Insurance Shadows? \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One of the things we've heard over and over again from TNC drivers is that they have not informed their insurance company of what they do, for \u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/news/2013/11/14/can-lyft-uberx-drivers-lose-their-insurance\" target=\"_blank\">fear of losing their personal coverage\u003c/a>. Although only a handful of reports have surfaced of this actually occurring, the word among drivers is that it's a definite risk.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mike Banko, who's been driving for Lyft since December 2012, is typical of that \"don't ask, don't tell\" attitude.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"I've been with my insurance company for the past 16 years,\" he said. \"I never have disclosed to them I do ride-share, but they also have never asked.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Does he worry about that?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"I do believe they would cover me during a Period 1 accident, but I think they may then drop me. But I’m not 100 percent sure.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Banko said he'd feel less exposed if he could be proactively honest with his insurance company, and he said he intended to get a quote from Farmers, which he's not insured with, as soon as possible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I also asked John Han, a longtime San Francisco cab driver, if he'd now consider making the switch to a TNC, because he'd gone partially down that road a couple of years ago, abandoning the attempt because he couldn't get coverage whenever he told an insurer he intended to use his vehicle for ride-service work.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Han said no dice, not in 2015.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"That was the case in late 2013, early 2014. I couldn’t get insurance and that was the deal breaker. But since then, \u003ca href=\"http://fortune.com/2014/05/28/in-price-wars-some-uber-and-lyft-drivers-feel-the-crunch/\" target=\"_blank\">Uber and Lyft have gotten into their price war\u003c/a>. So if I'd made the switch back then, I could be expected to make the same amount of money per ride, approximately (as from driving a taxi). But now they’ve made their prices so low, that even with this new insurance product, there’s more to consider. I think nowadays some cab drivers may be making more than the average TNC driver, and that was not the case before.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Is that true? Well, Mike Banko, for one, says he now makes about half of what he used to as a Lyft driver.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>San Francisco Treasurer and Tax Collector Jose Cisneros today reminded independent contractors, including drivers for ride-services such as Uber and Lyft, that they are required by law to register their business with the city by Monday afternoon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Members of the San Francisco Taxi Workers Alliance, however, say that independent contractors driving for ride-services are not registering or annually renewing their business registration certificate, and that the city is not doing enough to compel them to pay the fee required by the city ordinance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A group of taxi drivers gathered inside San Francisco City Hall this afternoon to meet with Cisneros and to hand him a letter requesting that more be done to level the playing field.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The letter from the taxi alliance reads: \"We are providing the same service to the public, but, as far as we know, only we pay the fee.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cisneros said that sometimes the self-employed and independent contractors, such as piano teachers or tennis instructors, can be difficult for his office to detect.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He said drivers for ride-services also fall into that category and that his office often doesn't have mailing addresses or email addresses of those drivers, therefore making it impossible to deliver notices and collect fees.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"I hear you,\" Cisneros said to the taxi drivers. \"We absolutely enforce the law.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Cisneros admits that the law isn't perfect and his office doesn't have the manpower to canvass the streets in search of rogue drivers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Barry Korengold, who has been driving a taxi since 1987 and is on the executive board of the taxi alliance, said he thinks Cisneros needs to require ride-service drivers to register.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Korengold said that the taxi company he drives for instructed him to register with the city. If he doesn't renew that registration, and pay the $91 annual fee, the city has his contact information and would levy penalties against him.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ride-service drivers aren't compelled to register and won't receive penalties because the city doesn't know who they are or how to contact them, Korengold said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He said the treasurer should require employers, such as Uber, Lyft, Sidecar, Wingz, and others, to notify their drivers of their legal responsibilities to the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Korengold said the city's board of supervisors ought to craft an ordinance to allow for increased oversight of these drivers operating businesses on the city's roads.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He suggested a sticker be placed on the driver's vehicle to prove their registration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Other taxi drivers who gathered at city hall today said they felt that the city is discriminating against them with the unfair application of the city's business registration fee.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The taxi alliance maintains that preferential treatment for the ride-service companies extends past the registration fee to background checks, training, insurance, and vehicle inspections.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The taxi alliance's letter to Cisneros states that as a result of that preferential treatment, taxi drivers' incomes have been \"catastrophically cut\" and that, \"as many as 40 percent of drivers are now earning below minimum wage on shifts. Many of us are immigrants with few options to support our families - taxi driving is the only way we house, feed and clothe our families. Our families are suffering.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cisneros said today's Taxpayer Assistance Day event held at City Hall was designed to help all taxpayers complete their business registration renewal by the Monday deadline. He said they can also register online.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He encouraged everyone doing business in San Francisco to register or renew their business by the deadline to avoid additional fees, interest, and penalties.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>San Francisco Treasurer and Tax Collector Jose Cisneros today reminded independent contractors, including drivers for ride-services such as Uber and Lyft, that they are required by law to register their business with the city by Monday afternoon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Members of the San Francisco Taxi Workers Alliance, however, say that independent contractors driving for ride-services are not registering or annually renewing their business registration certificate, and that the city is not doing enough to compel them to pay the fee required by the city ordinance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A group of taxi drivers gathered inside San Francisco City Hall this afternoon to meet with Cisneros and to hand him a letter requesting that more be done to level the playing field.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The letter from the taxi alliance reads: \"We are providing the same service to the public, but, as far as we know, only we pay the fee.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cisneros said that sometimes the self-employed and independent contractors, such as piano teachers or tennis instructors, can be difficult for his office to detect.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He said drivers for ride-services also fall into that category and that his office often doesn't have mailing addresses or email addresses of those drivers, therefore making it impossible to deliver notices and collect fees.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"I hear you,\" Cisneros said to the taxi drivers. \"We absolutely enforce the law.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Cisneros admits that the law isn't perfect and his office doesn't have the manpower to canvass the streets in search of rogue drivers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Barry Korengold, who has been driving a taxi since 1987 and is on the executive board of the taxi alliance, said he thinks Cisneros needs to require ride-service drivers to register.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Korengold said that the taxi company he drives for instructed him to register with the city. If he doesn't renew that registration, and pay the $91 annual fee, the city has his contact information and would levy penalties against him.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ride-service drivers aren't compelled to register and won't receive penalties because the city doesn't know who they are or how to contact them, Korengold said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He said the treasurer should require employers, such as Uber, Lyft, Sidecar, Wingz, and others, to notify their drivers of their legal responsibilities to the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Korengold said the city's board of supervisors ought to craft an ordinance to allow for increased oversight of these drivers operating businesses on the city's roads.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He suggested a sticker be placed on the driver's vehicle to prove their registration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Other taxi drivers who gathered at city hall today said they felt that the city is discriminating against them with the unfair application of the city's business registration fee.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The taxi alliance maintains that preferential treatment for the ride-service companies extends past the registration fee to background checks, training, insurance, and vehicle inspections.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The taxi alliance's letter to Cisneros states that as a result of that preferential treatment, taxi drivers' incomes have been \"catastrophically cut\" and that, \"as many as 40 percent of drivers are now earning below minimum wage on shifts. Many of us are immigrants with few options to support our families - taxi driving is the only way we house, feed and clothe our families. Our families are suffering.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cisneros said today's Taxpayer Assistance Day event held at City Hall was designed to help all taxpayers complete their business registration renewal by the Monday deadline. He said they can also register online.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He encouraged everyone doing business in San Francisco to register or renew their business by the deadline to avoid additional fees, interest, and penalties.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"disqusTitle": "Ride-Service Roundup: What's Happening With Uber and Lyft Around the U.S. and the World",
"title": "Ride-Service Roundup: What's Happening With Uber and Lyft Around the U.S. and the World",
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"content": "\u003cp>As we've covered the regulatory triumphs and travails of San Francisco-based Uber and Lyft in California over the last several years, we've also kept an eye on how the companies are faring around the country and, in Uber's case, around the world.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The transportation network companies, or TNCs, as California designates them, have done battle with legislatures, city councils, the insurance industry and especially local taxi companies and drivers in their remarkably rapid expansion into new markets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Disruption\" is a tech conceit that has almost become a cliche, but there really is no other word for what the nascent ride-service firms have inflicted upon the heavily regulated business of taxis. They once provided a traditional fallback profession for those who either wanted a more independent work life or a temporary bridge to a more conventional gig, but they've seen downward pressure on drivers' ability to make a living due to the new competition.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>More recently, drivers for Uber and Lyft, who once spoke so glowingly about the money and flexibility their driving jobs afforded them, have also started to grumble over cuts in their wages as a result of the firms slashing prices.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On any given day, dozens of news stories are written about Uber, a $40-50 billion juggernaut, and its much smaller top competitor, Lyft. Here's a snapshot of what's been going on recently, from a Florida regulatory ruling that an Uber driver qualifies for unemployment as an employee of the company, to Long Beach's decision to relax regulations on its taxi industry so as to put it on a more even footing with TNCs, to prosecutions against Uber drivers in Perth, Australia.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Akron\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.ohio.com/business/lin-fisher/ride-sharing-services-uber-lyft-growing-in-akron-area-1.594071\" target=\"_blank\">Ride-sharing services, Uber, Lyft growing in Akron area \u003c/a> (Akron Beacon Journal)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>Uber and Lyft, two ride-sharing companies that have been growing nationally and internationally, both entered the Akron market last year. Their presence is growing, coupled with a more robust market in the Cleveland area. ... Uber has been in Ohio since October 2013 and is in all six of the major cities, Cleveland, Akron, Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton and Toledo, said James Ondrey, general manager for Uber Ohio and Kentucky.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Bloomington, Ill.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/uber-pilot-project-reduces-city-s-role-in-regulating-vehicles/article_c6b83974-77a4-55b9-9b2f-0782b4d13b04.html\">Uber pilot project reduces city's role in regulating vehicles for hire \u003c/a>(Pantagraph)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>Uber, taxis and other vehicles for hire could do their own driver background checks and vehicle safety inspections under a pilot program the Bloomington City Council will consider Tuesday. Currently, the city and the police department are involved in that oversight. ... Under the new proposal, the city will create a transportation network companies (TNC) ordinance that would require city audits twice annually. Audits would review records to ensure compliance with insurance requirements, performing safety checks on vehicles and checking drivers' backgrounds, using multi-state criminal records and national sex offender registry databases.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Florida\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertwood/2015/05/26/florida-says-uber-drivers-are-employees-but-fedex-other-cases-promise-long-battle/\" target=\"_blank\">Florida Says Uber Drivers Are Employees, But FedEx, Other Cases Promise Long Battle\u003c/a> (Forbes)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>Uber promises good open-ended pay, flexible hours, even discounts on vehicles. But employee status? No way. Health and dental coverage? Tax withholding? Nope. Darrin McGillis was a driver in Florida who was in a car accident so could no longer pick up passengers. Buzzfeed reported on the case in which McGillis couldn’t get Uber to help, so he filed for unemployment. Hey, I qualify since I’m effectively an employee, McGillis claimed. Sure enough, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity agreed with him that he was actually an employee. Predictably, Uber disagrees with the decision and will surely fight it vigorously. A separate report on McGillis’s case in \u003ca href=\"http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/article21599697.html\" target=\"_blank\">The Miami Herald\u003c/a> notes that Uber has managed to get similar state decisions overturned. Although the case only involves one Uber driver and in Florida at that, this case and the inevitable others like it will be watched. Recently, a survey showed that contract workers for Uber and numerous other companies don’t get benefits and have trouble getting them on their own.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Kansas\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.kansascity.com/news/business/article21673137.html\" target=\"_blank\">Uber returns to Kansas after bill-signing Friday\u003c/a> (Kansas City Star)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>Uber has officially returned to Kansas, and Gov. Sam Brownback was one of its first passengers upon signing a new law designed to bring the ride-hailing service back to the Sunflower State. ... Brownback’s signing of SB 101 puts an end to a controversy that has besieged the Legislature in recent weeks. ... Uber announced it was pulling out of Kansas and halted all service earlier this month after the Legislature established insurance and safety regulations for ride-hailing services. Brownback vetoed the safety regulation bill, but the Legislature overrode his veto. Uber resumed service in the state within two minutes of Brownback’s signing of the new bill, which represents a compromise.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Long Beach\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-long-beach-uber-20150514-story.html\">Long Beach allows taxis to lower fares as they compete with Uber, Lyft\u003c/a> (LA Times)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>Long Beach officials are pursuing a new strategy to resolve the growing rift between taxi drivers and ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft, becoming the nation's first large city to relax restrictions on cabs, rather than increase regulation of their new competitors. Removing requirements that taxi drivers say have put them at a competitive disadvantage, the City Council voted Tuesday to allow its exclusive cab franchise to rebrand itself, update the appearance of its fleet and offer variable, discounted fares, free rides and other price promotions to lure customers.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Maryland\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bs-bz-uber-ocean-city-20150521-story.html\" target=\"_blank\">Uber to launch in Ocean City, St. Michaels on Friday\u003c/a> (WBAL)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>Uber will start offering rides to smartphone-equipped beachgoers and vacationers in Ocean City and St. Michaels ... the popular rideshare company announced Thursday. ... It's expansion to the Eastern Shore comes after it and other companies like it, including Lyft, won a key victory in Annapolis this past session, when legislators passed a bill outlining a new framework for the companies to operate legally in the state. Prior to the legislation passing, Uber had been in a protracted dispute over regulations with the Maryland Public Service Commission and representatives from the state's traditional taxi industry.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Massachussetts\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.wbur.org/2015/05/22/uber-cape-cod-marthas-vineyard-nantucket\" target=\"_blank\">Uber Launches On Cape Cod And The Islands\u003c/a> (WBUR)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>The ride-for-hire service Uber will begin operating on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Friday. The service will launch in the beach communities at 5 p.m. Friday evening, just in time for Memorial Day weekend. ... Regulations, however, are likely on the way. Gov. Charlie Baker last month proposed new legislation that would require ride-for-hire services to conduct background checks on drivers and ensure cars have proper insurance. It has not yet been taken up by the Legislature.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Nevada\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/nevada-legislature/legislature-approves-bill-authorizing-uber-lyft-nevada\">Legislature approves bill authorizing Uber, Lyft in Nevada\u003c/a> (Las Vegas Review-Journal)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>A bill authorizing ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft to operate in Nevada won approval early Saturday in the Nevada Legislature, but it didn’t happen without plenty of confusion. A 3 percent excises tax on fares, including on taxis and limousines, was also approved, which will raise tens of millions in new revenue, including $19 million to fully fund the new medical school at UNLV. In Assembly and Senate floor sessions that lasted until the early morning hours on Saturday, the Assembly signed off on Assembly Bill 175, sending it to Gov. Brian Sandoval, who is expected to sign the measure.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>New York City\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.cnbc.com/id/102706872\">Taxi drivers fight back against Uber and Lyft\u003c/a> (CNBC)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>As valuations for major ride-hailing players including Lyft soar into the billions, the value of traditional taxicab medallions is declining. Medallions are city-issued licenses to operate cabs. But some New York City medallion owners are fighting back. They're trying to craft their own app solutions, albeit with mixed results, and working longer hours to pay the bills.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://nypost.com/2015/05/25/nyc-uber-drivers-converting-cars-to-yellow-taxis/\" target=\"_blank\">NYC Uber drivers converting cars to yellow taxis\u003c/a> (NY Post)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>Uber drivers are transforming their black cars into taxis as part of a Taxi and Limousine Commission pilot project, The Post has learned. So far, five hacks have gone through with the makeover, and seven more are in the pipeline, the TLC said. ... The program was approved in January, and accepts cars no older than two years, reversing a nearly 20-year-old TLC requirement that only new cars be added to the city’s taxi fleet. ... It comes as Uber cars now outnumber yellow cabs, 14,088 to 13,587, according to TLC data released in March. Taxis still make more trips.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Pittsburgh\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2484605,00.asp\">Uber Testing Self-Driving Car in Pittsburgh? Not Quite\u003c/a> (PC)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>Is an Uber self-driving car travelling around the greater Pittsburgh area? Unfortunately not. As much as we'd love to see a day when an unmanned vehicle can pick us up and take us on our way (and let us blast our Spotify playlists as loudly as we want), we're not quite there yet. Though news reports have suggested that Uber is testing a self-driving vehicle around Pittsburgh recently, that's not quite the case. That said, Uber does have some test cars driving around—easily discernible by their all-black appearance, Uber logo, and \"Uber Advanced Technologies Center\" branding on the side, in addition to the curious array of sensors and other electronic items attached to the car's roof.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Portland\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.opb.org/news/article/ubers-wheelchair-accessible-option-in-portland-doesnt-work-9-to-5/\" target=\"_blank\">Uber's Wheelchair-Accessible Option In Portland Doesn't Work 9 to 5\u003c/a> (Oregon Public Broadcasting)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>Four weeks have passed since Uber legally re-launched its service in Portland on April 24, after the city council, in a divided vote, approved a 4-month long experiment in taxi deregulation. ... One of the city’s victories in the negotiations that allowed Uber to re-launch was Uber’s commitment to provide wheelchair-accessible rides. Uber provides some form of wheelchair-accessible service in several other cities, including San Francisco, Chicago and New York, but Portland was the first place where the company agreed to launch its wheelchair option, which it calls the WAV view, from the start. ... Based on their own description of what they offer, Uber’s service appears to fall well short of the city’s requirements that transportation app companies provide equitable service to people with disabilities, including those in wheelchairs. The contractor Uber works with to provide wheelchair vans, First Transit, has no drivers working on the Uber platform during the day on weekdays, and has just one van driver working on call from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Seattle\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.geekwire.com/2015/uber-lyft-may-soon-be-allowed-to-pick-up-passengers-at-seattle-airport/\" target=\"_blank\">Uber, Lyft may soon be allowed to pick up passengers at Seattle airport\u003c/a> (GeekWire)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>Smartphone owners needing a ride from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport may soon have a few more transportation options. The Port of Seattle has been in negotiations with Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar — also known as “transportation network companies,” or TNCs — and could allow the companies to pick up passengers at Sea-Tac as soon as next month.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Texas\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2015/05/21/368968.htm\">Uber Facing Another Setback As Texas Passes on Ridesharing Law\u003c/a> (Bloomberg)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>Uber Technologies Inc.’s attempt to replace a patchwork of local rules in Texas with a state law regulating its car-booking business is headed for defeat because lawmakers have yet to act on a key measure with only days remaining in the legislative session. Barring a last-minute change of course in the Capitol in Austin, the company will walk away empty-handed in the second- most-populous U.S. state as it seeks to expand after reports this month said a new round of funding would boost its valuation to an estimated $50 billion.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Washington, D.C.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dr-gridlock/wp/2015/05/21/uber-and-lyft-could-soon-be-operating-at-national-dulles-airports/\" target=\"_blank\">Uber and Lyft could soon be operating at National, Dulles airports\u003c/a> (Washington Post)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority on Wednesday unveiled a plan to allow the popular app-based car services to operate at both airports. Under the proposal, the airports would designate waiting areas for rideshare vehicles so drivers could arrange trips with passengers while already on the airport premises. This would help reduce the customer wait time for the ride.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://dcinno.streetwise.co/2015/05/26/dc-uber-lyft-regulations-lead-to-taxi-union-lawsuit/\">Can the Taxi Union Get the Courts to Shut down Uber and Lyft in DC?\u003c/a> (DC Inno)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>Uber, Lyft and Sidecar were given an unfair advantage by the regulations approved last year by the D.C. Council according to the Metro Area Taxi Operators Association. The taxi union, which is affiliated with the Teamsters, filed a class-action lawsuit with six D.C. taxi drivers in U.S. District Court against the city on Friday. The Vehicle-forHire Innovation Amendment Act of 2014 \"creates an irrational, two-tiered regulatory system that unconstitutionally harms the economic and property interests of the Taxicab Service Plaintiffs and similarly situated taxicab permit holders,\" according to the lawsuit.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003ch2>International\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Australia\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/turf-war-intensifies-between-uber-and-taxis-after-driver-claims-foot-run-over/story-fni0fee2-1227367443781\">Turf war intensifies between Uber and taxis after driver claims foot run over\u003c/a> (Herald Sun)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>A taxi turf war was behind an alleged dispute that saw an UberX driver run over a young cabbie’s foot in East Melbourne on Saturday night, industry insiders claim. Police are investigating the alleged incident, which Silver Top taxi driver Syed Rizvi says has left him with a bruised and swollen foot and unable to work for at least a month. Uber has hit back at the allegation, saying its driver was “intimidated and physically threatened” by taxi drivers at the scene of the alleged altercation.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/wa-transport-department-launches-prosecutions-against-19-uber-drivers/story-fnhocxo3-1227369745223\">WA Transport Department launches prosecutions against 19 Uber drivers\u003c/a> (Perth Now)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>WA’S Department of Transport has ramped up its action against ride-sharing smartphone app Uber, launching 19 more prosecutions against its drivers. A department spokeswoman said on Tuesday the 19 prosecutions were initiated earlier this month for failing to comply with a lawful direction of an authorised officer under the Taxi Act 1994.\u003cbr>\n“These prosecutions are a result of previously issued “notice to produce orders”. As these matters are now before the courts, DoT is not able to provide further comment,” she said. This brings the number of prosecutions against Uber drivers in WA to 20.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>China\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.cnbc.com/id/102705599\">Chinese city of Guangzhou to launch Uber rival service\u003c/a> (CNBC)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>Guangzhou's municipal government is planning to launch its own Uber-like online taxi hire service, only weeks after police closed the San Francisco-based transport app's office in the southern Chinese city. The new company, Ruyue (meaning \"by appointment\"), will offer rides to customers using a smartphone app. However, the journeys will be provided by the four taxi companies with licences to operate in Guangzhou, which had faced competition from Uber before it was shut.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>France\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.wsj.com/articles/uber-dealt-fresh-blow-by-french-court-1432295784\">Uber Dealt Fresh Blow by French Court\u003c/a> (The Wall Street Journal)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>Uber Technologies Inc. lost a round in its ongoing legal battles in Europe, when a French court upheld parts of a transport law aimed at reining in the California-based car-hailing firm. The decision is a fresh blow to Uber, which faces a more important ruling on other elements of a law passed last October, in particular one that criminalizes Uber’s low-cost service, Uberpop, which uses drivers without commercial licenses.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Hungary\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://hungarytoday.hu/news/taxi-app-uber-go-business-hungary-tax-authority-sting-24489\" target=\"_blank\">Taxi App Uber Could Go Out Of Business In Hungary After Tax Authority Sting\u003c/a> (Hungary Today)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>An investigation conducted by the National Tax and Customs Administration has found that all Uber drivers examined broke tax regulations, and hefty fines suggest that the taxi app could go out of business in Hungary. During the first series of checks by tax officers disguised as passengers, conducted in May, the tax authority found that none of the tested drivers had a VAT number or produced an invoice. Drivers failed to install taxi meters in their cars and there were no blank receipts or invoices provided. The drivers, who were found to offer the service in a “business-like” manner, had neither a taxi licence or a certificate of medical condition. Those who were found to break the rules may now be hit by fines up to HUF 200 000 and the tax authority said that it will carry out further checks on every single Uber driver.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Italy\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/italian-court-bans-unlicensed-taxi-services-like-uber-1.2226506\" target=\"_blank\">Italian court bans unlicensed taxi services like Uber\u003c/a> (Reuters)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>An Italian court on Tuesday banned unlicensed car-sharing services such as those offered by Uber, in another setback for the fast-growing US car service whose smartphone app summons rides at the touch of a button. Uber has been gaining popularity among passengers seeking lower cost car rides, triggering protests across Europe by heavily regulated traditional taxi drivers. The court in Italy’s business capital Milan said the Uber POP service, which links private drivers with passengers through an easy-to-use smartphone app, created “unfair competition”.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>London, UK\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology-science/technology/black-cabbies-prepare-cause-london-5763792\" target=\"_blank\">Black cabbies prepare to cause London gridlock in protest against taxi app Uber\u003c/a> (Mirror)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>The drivers of London's iconic black cabs will take to the streets this afternoon in a protest against Uber's increasing domination of the taxi industry. Hundreds of cabbies are expected to descend on the Victoria headquarters of Transport for London at 2pm, potentially causing traffic to back up around the city. Today's protest is organised by an organisation called United Cabbies Group, but its concerns are shared across the industry.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Mexico City\u003cbr>\n\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.wsj.com/articles/mexico-city-cabbies-block-streets-to-protest-against-uber-1432593861\">Mexico City Cabbies Block Streets to Protest Against Uber\u003c/a> (Wall Street Journal)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>Hundreds of taxi drivers blocked main thoroughfares in Mexico City on Monday to demand that authorities crack down on the popular ride-hailing service Uber, which responded by offering free trips throughout the day to its users. The protest against Uber Technologies Inc., its smaller Spain-based counterpart Cabify, and unlicensed cabbies turned parts of the capital’s streets into virtual parking lots dominated by the pink-and-white taxis that are licensed by the city government.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\n",
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"headline": "Ride-Service Roundup: What's Happening With Uber and Lyft Around the U.S. and the World",
"datePublished": "2015-05-26T13:16:45-07:00",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>As we've covered the regulatory triumphs and travails of San Francisco-based Uber and Lyft in California over the last several years, we've also kept an eye on how the companies are faring around the country and, in Uber's case, around the world.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The transportation network companies, or TNCs, as California designates them, have done battle with legislatures, city councils, the insurance industry and especially local taxi companies and drivers in their remarkably rapid expansion into new markets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Disruption\" is a tech conceit that has almost become a cliche, but there really is no other word for what the nascent ride-service firms have inflicted upon the heavily regulated business of taxis. They once provided a traditional fallback profession for those who either wanted a more independent work life or a temporary bridge to a more conventional gig, but they've seen downward pressure on drivers' ability to make a living due to the new competition.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>More recently, drivers for Uber and Lyft, who once spoke so glowingly about the money and flexibility their driving jobs afforded them, have also started to grumble over cuts in their wages as a result of the firms slashing prices.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On any given day, dozens of news stories are written about Uber, a $40-50 billion juggernaut, and its much smaller top competitor, Lyft. Here's a snapshot of what's been going on recently, from a Florida regulatory ruling that an Uber driver qualifies for unemployment as an employee of the company, to Long Beach's decision to relax regulations on its taxi industry so as to put it on a more even footing with TNCs, to prosecutions against Uber drivers in Perth, Australia.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Akron\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.ohio.com/business/lin-fisher/ride-sharing-services-uber-lyft-growing-in-akron-area-1.594071\" target=\"_blank\">Ride-sharing services, Uber, Lyft growing in Akron area \u003c/a> (Akron Beacon Journal)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>Uber and Lyft, two ride-sharing companies that have been growing nationally and internationally, both entered the Akron market last year. Their presence is growing, coupled with a more robust market in the Cleveland area. ... Uber has been in Ohio since October 2013 and is in all six of the major cities, Cleveland, Akron, Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton and Toledo, said James Ondrey, general manager for Uber Ohio and Kentucky.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Bloomington, Ill.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/uber-pilot-project-reduces-city-s-role-in-regulating-vehicles/article_c6b83974-77a4-55b9-9b2f-0782b4d13b04.html\">Uber pilot project reduces city's role in regulating vehicles for hire \u003c/a>(Pantagraph)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>Uber, taxis and other vehicles for hire could do their own driver background checks and vehicle safety inspections under a pilot program the Bloomington City Council will consider Tuesday. Currently, the city and the police department are involved in that oversight. ... Under the new proposal, the city will create a transportation network companies (TNC) ordinance that would require city audits twice annually. Audits would review records to ensure compliance with insurance requirements, performing safety checks on vehicles and checking drivers' backgrounds, using multi-state criminal records and national sex offender registry databases.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Florida\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertwood/2015/05/26/florida-says-uber-drivers-are-employees-but-fedex-other-cases-promise-long-battle/\" target=\"_blank\">Florida Says Uber Drivers Are Employees, But FedEx, Other Cases Promise Long Battle\u003c/a> (Forbes)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>Uber promises good open-ended pay, flexible hours, even discounts on vehicles. But employee status? No way. Health and dental coverage? Tax withholding? Nope. Darrin McGillis was a driver in Florida who was in a car accident so could no longer pick up passengers. Buzzfeed reported on the case in which McGillis couldn’t get Uber to help, so he filed for unemployment. Hey, I qualify since I’m effectively an employee, McGillis claimed. Sure enough, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity agreed with him that he was actually an employee. Predictably, Uber disagrees with the decision and will surely fight it vigorously. A separate report on McGillis’s case in \u003ca href=\"http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/article21599697.html\" target=\"_blank\">The Miami Herald\u003c/a> notes that Uber has managed to get similar state decisions overturned. Although the case only involves one Uber driver and in Florida at that, this case and the inevitable others like it will be watched. Recently, a survey showed that contract workers for Uber and numerous other companies don’t get benefits and have trouble getting them on their own.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Kansas\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.kansascity.com/news/business/article21673137.html\" target=\"_blank\">Uber returns to Kansas after bill-signing Friday\u003c/a> (Kansas City Star)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>Uber has officially returned to Kansas, and Gov. Sam Brownback was one of its first passengers upon signing a new law designed to bring the ride-hailing service back to the Sunflower State. ... Brownback’s signing of SB 101 puts an end to a controversy that has besieged the Legislature in recent weeks. ... Uber announced it was pulling out of Kansas and halted all service earlier this month after the Legislature established insurance and safety regulations for ride-hailing services. Brownback vetoed the safety regulation bill, but the Legislature overrode his veto. Uber resumed service in the state within two minutes of Brownback’s signing of the new bill, which represents a compromise.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Long Beach\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-long-beach-uber-20150514-story.html\">Long Beach allows taxis to lower fares as they compete with Uber, Lyft\u003c/a> (LA Times)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>Long Beach officials are pursuing a new strategy to resolve the growing rift between taxi drivers and ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft, becoming the nation's first large city to relax restrictions on cabs, rather than increase regulation of their new competitors. Removing requirements that taxi drivers say have put them at a competitive disadvantage, the City Council voted Tuesday to allow its exclusive cab franchise to rebrand itself, update the appearance of its fleet and offer variable, discounted fares, free rides and other price promotions to lure customers.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Maryland\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bs-bz-uber-ocean-city-20150521-story.html\" target=\"_blank\">Uber to launch in Ocean City, St. Michaels on Friday\u003c/a> (WBAL)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>Uber will start offering rides to smartphone-equipped beachgoers and vacationers in Ocean City and St. Michaels ... the popular rideshare company announced Thursday. ... It's expansion to the Eastern Shore comes after it and other companies like it, including Lyft, won a key victory in Annapolis this past session, when legislators passed a bill outlining a new framework for the companies to operate legally in the state. Prior to the legislation passing, Uber had been in a protracted dispute over regulations with the Maryland Public Service Commission and representatives from the state's traditional taxi industry.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Massachussetts\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.wbur.org/2015/05/22/uber-cape-cod-marthas-vineyard-nantucket\" target=\"_blank\">Uber Launches On Cape Cod And The Islands\u003c/a> (WBUR)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>The ride-for-hire service Uber will begin operating on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Friday. The service will launch in the beach communities at 5 p.m. Friday evening, just in time for Memorial Day weekend. ... Regulations, however, are likely on the way. Gov. Charlie Baker last month proposed new legislation that would require ride-for-hire services to conduct background checks on drivers and ensure cars have proper insurance. It has not yet been taken up by the Legislature.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Nevada\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/nevada-legislature/legislature-approves-bill-authorizing-uber-lyft-nevada\">Legislature approves bill authorizing Uber, Lyft in Nevada\u003c/a> (Las Vegas Review-Journal)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>A bill authorizing ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft to operate in Nevada won approval early Saturday in the Nevada Legislature, but it didn’t happen without plenty of confusion. A 3 percent excises tax on fares, including on taxis and limousines, was also approved, which will raise tens of millions in new revenue, including $19 million to fully fund the new medical school at UNLV. In Assembly and Senate floor sessions that lasted until the early morning hours on Saturday, the Assembly signed off on Assembly Bill 175, sending it to Gov. Brian Sandoval, who is expected to sign the measure.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>New York City\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.cnbc.com/id/102706872\">Taxi drivers fight back against Uber and Lyft\u003c/a> (CNBC)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>As valuations for major ride-hailing players including Lyft soar into the billions, the value of traditional taxicab medallions is declining. Medallions are city-issued licenses to operate cabs. But some New York City medallion owners are fighting back. They're trying to craft their own app solutions, albeit with mixed results, and working longer hours to pay the bills.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://nypost.com/2015/05/25/nyc-uber-drivers-converting-cars-to-yellow-taxis/\" target=\"_blank\">NYC Uber drivers converting cars to yellow taxis\u003c/a> (NY Post)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>Uber drivers are transforming their black cars into taxis as part of a Taxi and Limousine Commission pilot project, The Post has learned. So far, five hacks have gone through with the makeover, and seven more are in the pipeline, the TLC said. ... The program was approved in January, and accepts cars no older than two years, reversing a nearly 20-year-old TLC requirement that only new cars be added to the city’s taxi fleet. ... It comes as Uber cars now outnumber yellow cabs, 14,088 to 13,587, according to TLC data released in March. Taxis still make more trips.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Pittsburgh\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2484605,00.asp\">Uber Testing Self-Driving Car in Pittsburgh? Not Quite\u003c/a> (PC)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>Is an Uber self-driving car travelling around the greater Pittsburgh area? Unfortunately not. As much as we'd love to see a day when an unmanned vehicle can pick us up and take us on our way (and let us blast our Spotify playlists as loudly as we want), we're not quite there yet. Though news reports have suggested that Uber is testing a self-driving vehicle around Pittsburgh recently, that's not quite the case. That said, Uber does have some test cars driving around—easily discernible by their all-black appearance, Uber logo, and \"Uber Advanced Technologies Center\" branding on the side, in addition to the curious array of sensors and other electronic items attached to the car's roof.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Portland\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.opb.org/news/article/ubers-wheelchair-accessible-option-in-portland-doesnt-work-9-to-5/\" target=\"_blank\">Uber's Wheelchair-Accessible Option In Portland Doesn't Work 9 to 5\u003c/a> (Oregon Public Broadcasting)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>Four weeks have passed since Uber legally re-launched its service in Portland on April 24, after the city council, in a divided vote, approved a 4-month long experiment in taxi deregulation. ... One of the city’s victories in the negotiations that allowed Uber to re-launch was Uber’s commitment to provide wheelchair-accessible rides. Uber provides some form of wheelchair-accessible service in several other cities, including San Francisco, Chicago and New York, but Portland was the first place where the company agreed to launch its wheelchair option, which it calls the WAV view, from the start. ... Based on their own description of what they offer, Uber’s service appears to fall well short of the city’s requirements that transportation app companies provide equitable service to people with disabilities, including those in wheelchairs. The contractor Uber works with to provide wheelchair vans, First Transit, has no drivers working on the Uber platform during the day on weekdays, and has just one van driver working on call from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Seattle\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.geekwire.com/2015/uber-lyft-may-soon-be-allowed-to-pick-up-passengers-at-seattle-airport/\" target=\"_blank\">Uber, Lyft may soon be allowed to pick up passengers at Seattle airport\u003c/a> (GeekWire)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>Smartphone owners needing a ride from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport may soon have a few more transportation options. The Port of Seattle has been in negotiations with Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar — also known as “transportation network companies,” or TNCs — and could allow the companies to pick up passengers at Sea-Tac as soon as next month.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Texas\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2015/05/21/368968.htm\">Uber Facing Another Setback As Texas Passes on Ridesharing Law\u003c/a> (Bloomberg)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>Uber Technologies Inc.’s attempt to replace a patchwork of local rules in Texas with a state law regulating its car-booking business is headed for defeat because lawmakers have yet to act on a key measure with only days remaining in the legislative session. Barring a last-minute change of course in the Capitol in Austin, the company will walk away empty-handed in the second- most-populous U.S. state as it seeks to expand after reports this month said a new round of funding would boost its valuation to an estimated $50 billion.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Washington, D.C.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dr-gridlock/wp/2015/05/21/uber-and-lyft-could-soon-be-operating-at-national-dulles-airports/\" target=\"_blank\">Uber and Lyft could soon be operating at National, Dulles airports\u003c/a> (Washington Post)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority on Wednesday unveiled a plan to allow the popular app-based car services to operate at both airports. Under the proposal, the airports would designate waiting areas for rideshare vehicles so drivers could arrange trips with passengers while already on the airport premises. This would help reduce the customer wait time for the ride.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://dcinno.streetwise.co/2015/05/26/dc-uber-lyft-regulations-lead-to-taxi-union-lawsuit/\">Can the Taxi Union Get the Courts to Shut down Uber and Lyft in DC?\u003c/a> (DC Inno)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>Uber, Lyft and Sidecar were given an unfair advantage by the regulations approved last year by the D.C. Council according to the Metro Area Taxi Operators Association. The taxi union, which is affiliated with the Teamsters, filed a class-action lawsuit with six D.C. taxi drivers in U.S. District Court against the city on Friday. The Vehicle-forHire Innovation Amendment Act of 2014 \"creates an irrational, two-tiered regulatory system that unconstitutionally harms the economic and property interests of the Taxicab Service Plaintiffs and similarly situated taxicab permit holders,\" according to the lawsuit.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003ch2>International\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Australia\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/turf-war-intensifies-between-uber-and-taxis-after-driver-claims-foot-run-over/story-fni0fee2-1227367443781\">Turf war intensifies between Uber and taxis after driver claims foot run over\u003c/a> (Herald Sun)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>A taxi turf war was behind an alleged dispute that saw an UberX driver run over a young cabbie’s foot in East Melbourne on Saturday night, industry insiders claim. Police are investigating the alleged incident, which Silver Top taxi driver Syed Rizvi says has left him with a bruised and swollen foot and unable to work for at least a month. Uber has hit back at the allegation, saying its driver was “intimidated and physically threatened” by taxi drivers at the scene of the alleged altercation.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/wa-transport-department-launches-prosecutions-against-19-uber-drivers/story-fnhocxo3-1227369745223\">WA Transport Department launches prosecutions against 19 Uber drivers\u003c/a> (Perth Now)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>WA’S Department of Transport has ramped up its action against ride-sharing smartphone app Uber, launching 19 more prosecutions against its drivers. A department spokeswoman said on Tuesday the 19 prosecutions were initiated earlier this month for failing to comply with a lawful direction of an authorised officer under the Taxi Act 1994.\u003cbr>\n“These prosecutions are a result of previously issued “notice to produce orders”. As these matters are now before the courts, DoT is not able to provide further comment,” she said. This brings the number of prosecutions against Uber drivers in WA to 20.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>China\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.cnbc.com/id/102705599\">Chinese city of Guangzhou to launch Uber rival service\u003c/a> (CNBC)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>Guangzhou's municipal government is planning to launch its own Uber-like online taxi hire service, only weeks after police closed the San Francisco-based transport app's office in the southern Chinese city. The new company, Ruyue (meaning \"by appointment\"), will offer rides to customers using a smartphone app. However, the journeys will be provided by the four taxi companies with licences to operate in Guangzhou, which had faced competition from Uber before it was shut.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>France\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.wsj.com/articles/uber-dealt-fresh-blow-by-french-court-1432295784\">Uber Dealt Fresh Blow by French Court\u003c/a> (The Wall Street Journal)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>Uber Technologies Inc. lost a round in its ongoing legal battles in Europe, when a French court upheld parts of a transport law aimed at reining in the California-based car-hailing firm. The decision is a fresh blow to Uber, which faces a more important ruling on other elements of a law passed last October, in particular one that criminalizes Uber’s low-cost service, Uberpop, which uses drivers without commercial licenses.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Hungary\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://hungarytoday.hu/news/taxi-app-uber-go-business-hungary-tax-authority-sting-24489\" target=\"_blank\">Taxi App Uber Could Go Out Of Business In Hungary After Tax Authority Sting\u003c/a> (Hungary Today)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>An investigation conducted by the National Tax and Customs Administration has found that all Uber drivers examined broke tax regulations, and hefty fines suggest that the taxi app could go out of business in Hungary. During the first series of checks by tax officers disguised as passengers, conducted in May, the tax authority found that none of the tested drivers had a VAT number or produced an invoice. Drivers failed to install taxi meters in their cars and there were no blank receipts or invoices provided. The drivers, who were found to offer the service in a “business-like” manner, had neither a taxi licence or a certificate of medical condition. Those who were found to break the rules may now be hit by fines up to HUF 200 000 and the tax authority said that it will carry out further checks on every single Uber driver.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Italy\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/italian-court-bans-unlicensed-taxi-services-like-uber-1.2226506\" target=\"_blank\">Italian court bans unlicensed taxi services like Uber\u003c/a> (Reuters)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>An Italian court on Tuesday banned unlicensed car-sharing services such as those offered by Uber, in another setback for the fast-growing US car service whose smartphone app summons rides at the touch of a button. Uber has been gaining popularity among passengers seeking lower cost car rides, triggering protests across Europe by heavily regulated traditional taxi drivers. The court in Italy’s business capital Milan said the Uber POP service, which links private drivers with passengers through an easy-to-use smartphone app, created “unfair competition”.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>London, UK\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology-science/technology/black-cabbies-prepare-cause-london-5763792\" target=\"_blank\">Black cabbies prepare to cause London gridlock in protest against taxi app Uber\u003c/a> (Mirror)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>The drivers of London's iconic black cabs will take to the streets this afternoon in a protest against Uber's increasing domination of the taxi industry. Hundreds of cabbies are expected to descend on the Victoria headquarters of Transport for London at 2pm, potentially causing traffic to back up around the city. Today's protest is organised by an organisation called United Cabbies Group, but its concerns are shared across the industry.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Mexico City\u003cbr>\n\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.wsj.com/articles/mexico-city-cabbies-block-streets-to-protest-against-uber-1432593861\">Mexico City Cabbies Block Streets to Protest Against Uber\u003c/a> (Wall Street Journal)\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>Hundreds of taxi drivers blocked main thoroughfares in Mexico City on Monday to demand that authorities crack down on the popular ride-hailing service Uber, which responded by offering free trips throughout the day to its users. The protest against Uber Technologies Inc., its smaller Spain-based counterpart Cabify, and unlicensed cabbies turned parts of the capital’s streets into virtual parking lots dominated by the pink-and-white taxis that are licensed by the city government.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"disqusTitle": "S.F. Cab Driver Weighs in on Competing With Uber, Lyft With New Documentary",
"title": "S.F. Cab Driver Weighs in on Competing With Uber, Lyft With New Documentary",
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"content": "\u003cp>Little did we know, when we were making our \u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/news/2015/02/10/taxi-vs-lyft-come-along-for-the-ride-video\" target=\"_blank\">video\u003c/a> comparing the experiences of a taxi driver and a Lyft driver, that the taxi representative was busy making his own hour-and-a-half documentary on the same topic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>John Han, who has been driving a cab in San Francisco for over 13 years, posted the \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpcJlw4CpPc\" target=\"_blank\">video\u003c/a>, called “Driving for Hire,” on YouTube Sunday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://youtu.be/wpcJlw4CpPc\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s a deep dive into the multiplicity of issues that have surrounded the contentious battle in California (and much of the rest of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.uber.com/cities\" target=\"_blank\">world\u003c/a>) between the cab industry and ride-service firms Uber and Lyft over the past several years: insurance, wages, wheelchair access and something that hasn’t gotten a lot of attention -- the environmental cost of putting all those extra vehicles on the road.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And while you may not be surprised to find that a cab driver advocates, ultimately, for more regulation of the ride services (and interviews attorney Christopher Dolan, a well-known critic of the transportation network companies, who is suing Uber), he doesn’t spare taxi companies their share of the blame for the poor service that allowed the upstart industry to emerge and eat their lunch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The documentary also addresses a longtime complaint of many cab drivers, and an issue we have \u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/news/2013/12/11/taxi-drivers-and-whos-taking-money-out-of-their-pockets\" target=\"_blank\">covered\u003c/a> in the past: the illegal custom, which some drivers say is obligatory at some companies, of “tipping” taxi dispatchers in order to be assigned a cab.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One of the more interesting segments, starting around 4:15, looks at the history of the relationship between San Francisco cab companies and drivers. Han talks to several drivers who toiled at the wheel in the 1970s, when drivers were employees and not just independent contractors for taxi outfits. Back then, the companies made them wear ties and slacks and banned facial hair, but drivers also enjoyed paid sick and vacation time and other benefits that are unheard of in the industry today.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Han did not talk to Uber or Lyft, but he says he did email Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, asking for an interview. Han says he never got a response.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It took Han about 10 months to complete “Driving for Hire.” His only experience working in video consisted of taking a crash course on the subject, and I asked him why he made the documentary.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I felt some issues weren’t being looked at enough and addressed enough,” he said. “I wanted to emphasize some things, particularly around the disability issue. And it doesn’t seem like anyone on the regulatory or legislative side is in any hurry to determine the environmental impacts.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for the San Francisco cab industry these days, Han said he thinks it’s going to be a “good, prosperous” year, although he says some of his fellow drivers beg to differ.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Every time I tell them my business hasn’t been affected too badly, they say I’m one of the few.\"\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Little did we know, when we were making our \u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/news/2015/02/10/taxi-vs-lyft-come-along-for-the-ride-video\" target=\"_blank\">video\u003c/a> comparing the experiences of a taxi driver and a Lyft driver, that the taxi representative was busy making his own hour-and-a-half documentary on the same topic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>John Han, who has been driving a cab in San Francisco for over 13 years, posted the \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpcJlw4CpPc\" target=\"_blank\">video\u003c/a>, called “Driving for Hire,” on YouTube Sunday.\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/wpcJlw4CpPc'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/wpcJlw4CpPc'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>It’s a deep dive into the multiplicity of issues that have surrounded the contentious battle in California (and much of the rest of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.uber.com/cities\" target=\"_blank\">world\u003c/a>) between the cab industry and ride-service firms Uber and Lyft over the past several years: insurance, wages, wheelchair access and something that hasn’t gotten a lot of attention -- the environmental cost of putting all those extra vehicles on the road.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And while you may not be surprised to find that a cab driver advocates, ultimately, for more regulation of the ride services (and interviews attorney Christopher Dolan, a well-known critic of the transportation network companies, who is suing Uber), he doesn’t spare taxi companies their share of the blame for the poor service that allowed the upstart industry to emerge and eat their lunch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The documentary also addresses a longtime complaint of many cab drivers, and an issue we have \u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/news/2013/12/11/taxi-drivers-and-whos-taking-money-out-of-their-pockets\" target=\"_blank\">covered\u003c/a> in the past: the illegal custom, which some drivers say is obligatory at some companies, of “tipping” taxi dispatchers in order to be assigned a cab.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One of the more interesting segments, starting around 4:15, looks at the history of the relationship between San Francisco cab companies and drivers. Han talks to several drivers who toiled at the wheel in the 1970s, when drivers were employees and not just independent contractors for taxi outfits. Back then, the companies made them wear ties and slacks and banned facial hair, but drivers also enjoyed paid sick and vacation time and other benefits that are unheard of in the industry today.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Han did not talk to Uber or Lyft, but he says he did email Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, asking for an interview. Han says he never got a response.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It took Han about 10 months to complete “Driving for Hire.” His only experience working in video consisted of taking a crash course on the subject, and I asked him why he made the documentary.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I felt some issues weren’t being looked at enough and addressed enough,” he said. “I wanted to emphasize some things, particularly around the disability issue. And it doesn’t seem like anyone on the regulatory or legislative side is in any hurry to determine the environmental impacts.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for the San Francisco cab industry these days, Han said he thinks it’s going to be a “good, prosperous” year, although he says some of his fellow drivers beg to differ.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Every time I tell them my business hasn’t been affected too badly, they say I’m one of the few.\"\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>Taxes have always been pretty easy for Enrique. He received W-2s, did the calculations himself and usually got a nice return. Then last year all that changed, after he signed up to drive for Lyft and Uber.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The income Enrique earns from driving for these ride-service companies makes him a sort of independent contractor, which raises a lot more tax questions than working as an employee does. Now Enrique has to keep track of his income and deductions, maintain records and save receipts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It's a brand-new world,” Enrique says. And he's still trying to figure it all out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.kqed.org/.stream/anon/radio/RDnews/2019/01/HarnettGigWorkerTaxes2015.mp3\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Enrique does not want to use his full name because he is afraid the companies won't appreciate his criticism. He says it's pretty much all up to the drivers to figure out everything about this job -- what's legal, what's safe and how to do the taxes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I've got firsthand experience for this story. Last winter I drove some for Lyft. I was interviewing passengers to make a podcast. I've worked as a freelancer for years, so I was used to handling more complicated taxes. But that is not the case for Enrique.\u003c/p>\n\u003caside class=\"pullquote alignleft\">Albert Einstein once said, 'The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax.'\u003ccite>Quote on Lyft website\u003c/cite>\u003c/aside>\n\u003cp>Like many new gig workers, Enrique has never owned a business nor been an independent contractor. He is unsure what to deduct and what records to keep. He says it is hard to get the information he needs. That's why he met with tax adviser Matthew Whatley.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Uber and Lyft provide drivers with statistics about their rides, but on their websites they urge drivers to seek professional tax advice. Whatley says people who come to him, like Enrique, are unprepared come tax time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I've never seen a single person from Lyft or Uber come in that had any idea of what their tax liability was or what kind of records to keep,\" Whatley says. \"Not one.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Taxes for this new kind of gig work are confusing, Whatley says. Not every gig company handles taxes the same way. Sometimes workers get tax forms stating their income; other times they don’t. Some drivers haven’t paid taxes for a few years, he says. Others are paying more than they should.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“These people are literally thrown to the wolves,” Whatley says. “They are being put in a tax meat grinder.”\u003c/p>\n\u003caside class=\"pullquote alignright\">'I've never seen a single person from Lyft or Uber come in that had any idea of what kind of records to keep. Not one.'\u003ccite>Matthew Whatley, tax adviser\u003c/cite>\u003c/aside>\n\u003cp>Whatley says many don't realize the extra load put on contractors when it comes to taxes. First, contractors have higher tax burdens than employees. That's because for employees, companies pay half the Social Security and Medicare taxes. Contractors also have to keep their own records -- mileage logs, gas receipts and other deductible expenses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This is all a surprisingly big obligation the companies are not upfront about, Enrique says. The advertisements soliciting drivers say how much they will make hourly -- before expenses, taxes and the time spent maintaining records and figuring out deductions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_10490041\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 408px\">\u003cimg class=\" wp-image-10490041\" src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/04/RS14829_Uber-screen-shot-qut-800x789.jpg\" alt=\"RS14829_Uber-screen-shot-qut\" width=\"408\" height=\"403\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2015/04/RS14829_Uber-screen-shot-qut-800x789.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2015/04/RS14829_Uber-screen-shot-qut-400x394.jpg 400w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2015/04/RS14829_Uber-screen-shot-qut-768x757.jpg 768w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2015/04/RS14829_Uber-screen-shot-qut-320x316.jpg 320w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2015/04/RS14829_Uber-screen-shot-qut-32x32.jpg 32w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2015/04/RS14829_Uber-screen-shot-qut-64x64.jpg 64w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2015/04/RS14829_Uber-screen-shot-qut-96x96.jpg 96w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2015/04/RS14829_Uber-screen-shot-qut-75x75.jpg 75w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2015/04/RS14829_Uber-screen-shot-qut.jpg 1010w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 408px) 100vw, 408px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Screen shot of an Uber ad promising hourly rates.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>One of the things gig workers like Enrique have to figure out is a relatively new tax form, \u003ca href=\"http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Understanding-Your-1099-K\">the 1099-K\u003c/a>. It is different from the 1099 form contractors normally use.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The 1099-K shows total credit card transactions, in this case between the riders and the company. Drivers then have to subtract expenses like tolls and fees they pay to Uber and Lyft. This makes it trickier for drivers to keep track of income, says Patricia Cain, law professor at Santa Clara University.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cain gives this example: Let's say a driver earns $18,000 of income, but there was $3,500 in fees and tolls that Uber charged to riders. The 1099-K the driver receives would show $21,500 gross income because that was the total of credit card transactions between the riders and Uber. The driver would then have to account for all the expenses that make up the difference.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cain says 1099-Ks were not originally designed for this kind of gig work. They were \u003ca href=\"https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/tax-tips/Small-Business-Taxes/What-Online-Business-Owners-Should-Know-About-IRS-Form-1099-K/INF23095.html\">developed in 2008\u003c/a> to track income that people make from sites like eBay and Etsy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[contextly_sidebar id=\"QwPotqqcCCuLX84WYC4OjvxYI3qcMpUR\"]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, why are these gig companies using the new forms? In an email, Lyft wrote that the 1099-K complies with tax rules. Uber did not respond.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.law.berkeley.edu/php-programs/faculty/facultyProfile.php?facID=7232\" target=\"_blank\">David Gamage\u003c/a> is a professor of tax law at UC Berkeley. He says the 1099-K could be part of a business strategy. It may be an effort to look more like an online marketplace that connect drivers with riders, rather than a company that contracts with those drivers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It's entirely possible that a primary reason for their adopting these structures is to want to distance themselves from the actions of their drivers,” Gamage says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The exact nature of the relationship between the companies and drivers is an important issue. Right now there are \u003ca href=\"http://www.forbes.com/sites/ellenhuet/2015/03/11/lyft-uber-employee-jury-trial-ruling/\">two class-action lawsuits\u003c/a> in California in which drivers are alleging that they are actually employees rather than independent contractors. If the lawsuits succeed, companies like Uber and Lyft would have to pay a lot more in taxes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Enrique, doing his taxes has been illuminating. He finally saw what he was actually earning -- less than minimum wage. He realized he needed to drive more than 30 hours a week to have anything left over after expenses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I know I need to be driving more,” Enrique says, “but I want to be able to live a life and see the sun.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now though, Enrique is committed to gig work. Last year he quit his day job and bought a Prius. He has car payments and high insurance premiums.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Enrique's plan is to drive more. He just signed up to deliver food through another gig website.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I've got firsthand experience for this story. Last winter I drove some for Lyft. I was interviewing passengers to make a podcast. I've worked as a freelancer for years, so I was used to handling more complicated taxes. But that is not the case for Enrique.\u003c/p>\n\u003caside class=\"pullquote alignleft\">Albert Einstein once said, 'The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax.'\u003ccite>Quote on Lyft website\u003c/cite>\u003c/aside>\n\u003cp>Like many new gig workers, Enrique has never owned a business nor been an independent contractor. He is unsure what to deduct and what records to keep. He says it is hard to get the information he needs. That's why he met with tax adviser Matthew Whatley.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Uber and Lyft provide drivers with statistics about their rides, but on their websites they urge drivers to seek professional tax advice. Whatley says people who come to him, like Enrique, are unprepared come tax time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I've never seen a single person from Lyft or Uber come in that had any idea of what their tax liability was or what kind of records to keep,\" Whatley says. \"Not one.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Taxes for this new kind of gig work are confusing, Whatley says. Not every gig company handles taxes the same way. Sometimes workers get tax forms stating their income; other times they don’t. Some drivers haven’t paid taxes for a few years, he says. Others are paying more than they should.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“These people are literally thrown to the wolves,” Whatley says. “They are being put in a tax meat grinder.”\u003c/p>\n\u003caside class=\"pullquote alignright\">'I've never seen a single person from Lyft or Uber come in that had any idea of what kind of records to keep. Not one.'\u003ccite>Matthew Whatley, tax adviser\u003c/cite>\u003c/aside>\n\u003cp>Whatley says many don't realize the extra load put on contractors when it comes to taxes. First, contractors have higher tax burdens than employees. That's because for employees, companies pay half the Social Security and Medicare taxes. Contractors also have to keep their own records -- mileage logs, gas receipts and other deductible expenses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This is all a surprisingly big obligation the companies are not upfront about, Enrique says. The advertisements soliciting drivers say how much they will make hourly -- before expenses, taxes and the time spent maintaining records and figuring out deductions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_10490041\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 408px\">\u003cimg class=\" wp-image-10490041\" src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/04/RS14829_Uber-screen-shot-qut-800x789.jpg\" alt=\"RS14829_Uber-screen-shot-qut\" width=\"408\" height=\"403\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2015/04/RS14829_Uber-screen-shot-qut-800x789.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2015/04/RS14829_Uber-screen-shot-qut-400x394.jpg 400w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2015/04/RS14829_Uber-screen-shot-qut-768x757.jpg 768w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2015/04/RS14829_Uber-screen-shot-qut-320x316.jpg 320w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2015/04/RS14829_Uber-screen-shot-qut-32x32.jpg 32w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2015/04/RS14829_Uber-screen-shot-qut-64x64.jpg 64w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2015/04/RS14829_Uber-screen-shot-qut-96x96.jpg 96w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2015/04/RS14829_Uber-screen-shot-qut-75x75.jpg 75w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2015/04/RS14829_Uber-screen-shot-qut.jpg 1010w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 408px) 100vw, 408px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Screen shot of an Uber ad promising hourly rates.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>One of the things gig workers like Enrique have to figure out is a relatively new tax form, \u003ca href=\"http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Understanding-Your-1099-K\">the 1099-K\u003c/a>. It is different from the 1099 form contractors normally use.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The 1099-K shows total credit card transactions, in this case between the riders and the company. Drivers then have to subtract expenses like tolls and fees they pay to Uber and Lyft. This makes it trickier for drivers to keep track of income, says Patricia Cain, law professor at Santa Clara University.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cain gives this example: Let's say a driver earns $18,000 of income, but there was $3,500 in fees and tolls that Uber charged to riders. The 1099-K the driver receives would show $21,500 gross income because that was the total of credit card transactions between the riders and Uber. The driver would then have to account for all the expenses that make up the difference.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cain says 1099-Ks were not originally designed for this kind of gig work. They were \u003ca href=\"https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/tax-tips/Small-Business-Taxes/What-Online-Business-Owners-Should-Know-About-IRS-Form-1099-K/INF23095.html\">developed in 2008\u003c/a> to track income that people make from sites like eBay and Etsy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, why are these gig companies using the new forms? In an email, Lyft wrote that the 1099-K complies with tax rules. Uber did not respond.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.law.berkeley.edu/php-programs/faculty/facultyProfile.php?facID=7232\" target=\"_blank\">David Gamage\u003c/a> is a professor of tax law at UC Berkeley. He says the 1099-K could be part of a business strategy. It may be an effort to look more like an online marketplace that connect drivers with riders, rather than a company that contracts with those drivers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It's entirely possible that a primary reason for their adopting these structures is to want to distance themselves from the actions of their drivers,” Gamage says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The exact nature of the relationship between the companies and drivers is an important issue. Right now there are \u003ca href=\"http://www.forbes.com/sites/ellenhuet/2015/03/11/lyft-uber-employee-jury-trial-ruling/\">two class-action lawsuits\u003c/a> in California in which drivers are alleging that they are actually employees rather than independent contractors. If the lawsuits succeed, companies like Uber and Lyft would have to pay a lot more in taxes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Enrique, doing his taxes has been illuminating. He finally saw what he was actually earning -- less than minimum wage. He realized he needed to drive more than 30 hours a week to have anything left over after expenses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I know I need to be driving more,” Enrique says, “but I want to be able to live a life and see the sun.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now though, Enrique is committed to gig work. Last year he quit his day job and bought a Prius. He has car payments and high insurance premiums.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Enrique's plan is to drive more. He just signed up to deliver food through another gig website.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"disqusTitle": "Taxi vs. Lyft: Come Along for the Ride (Video)",
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"content": "\u003cp>Here's our \"day in the life\" video comparing the experiences of driving a taxi and driving for Lyft. You'll see that the drivers comment on many of the issues in the ongoing \u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/news/2013/11/07/taxis-lyft-ride-service-war-on-streets-of-san-francisco\" target=\"_blank\">battle between taxis and ride services\u003c/a>: the loss of business for the taxis, the lack of insurance for the ride-service drivers, and how Lyft and Uber have been able to exploit the weaknesses of the taxi industry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One of the many interesting things about covering this story for a couple of years now is seeing the evolution of attitudes on the part of those on the front lines of the conflict.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To be sure, many cab drivers still despise Uber/Lyft and the part-time workers who have scooped up a substantial portion of their customers by driving their own vehicles, no less. And it’s true that some cab drivers would still rather pick up a drunken, carsick barbershop quartet than try to stake a claim in the “sharing economy.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_10426093\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/02/rideshare1.jpg\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-10426093\" src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/02/rideshare1-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"Looking back through one of the sideview mirrors on John Han's taxicab. (Adam Grossberg/KQED)\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2016/02/rideshare1-800x450.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2016/02/rideshare1-400x225.jpg 400w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2016/02/rideshare1.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Looking back through one of the sideview mirrors on John Han's taxicab. (Adam Grossberg/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But over the past year, many who used to drive taxis have been jumping ship to the upstart companies, leaving their former employers struggling to fill shifts. Obviously, many think they'll get a better deal working on their own. (You'll see in the video that cab drivers start every day in the hole, since they are responsible for renting the cab.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On the ride-service side, when I talked to a group of Lyft drivers in 2013, just about every one felt like like they’d stumbled upon the greatest part-time job in the world. Good pay -- $25-40 per hour -- plus a cherished ability to literally work whenever they want with absolutely no notice required.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Troubles Mount for TNCs\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Eighteen months later, while the honeymoon may not be completely over, it’s at least on the return flight home where they're skimping on the peanuts. \u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/news/2014/01/02/122446/\" target=\"_blank\">Fatal accidents\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/news/2013/11/14/who-pays-when-ride-share-driver-crashes\" target=\"_blank\">insurance gaps\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-01-30/uber-drivers-may-have-employee-status-judge-says\" target=\"_blank\">lawsuits\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"http://www.thesmokinggun.com/buster/battery/uber-driver-arrested-for-groping-passenger-897561\" target=\"_blank\">criminal incidents\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/news/2014/11/13/as-regulatory-battles-continue-uber-and-lyft-win-some-lose-some\" target=\"_blank\">regulatory hassles\u003c/a> and an influx of drivers leading to \u003ca href=\"http://www.vox.com/2014/12/17/7402311/lyft-driver-pay\" target=\"_blank\">diminished pay\u003c/a>, not to mention the grind of driving hour upon hour day after day, have -- as some cab drivers had predicted would happen -- combed a few hairs out of the famous pink mustache.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_10426091\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\" style=\"max-width: 400px\">\u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/02/john_cab.jpg\">\u003cimg class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-10426091\" src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/02/john_cab-400x225.jpg\" alt=\"John Han has been a cab driver in San Francisco for 13 years. (Adam Grossberg/KQED)\" width=\"400\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2016/02/john_cab-400x225.jpg 400w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2016/02/john_cab-800x450.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2016/02/john_cab.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">John Han has been a cab driver in San Francisco for 13 years. (Adam Grossberg/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>We picked John Han of Yellow Cab to follow around for several reasons. A former blogger on taxi issues, he’s as well versed on the issues concerning cabs, TNCs and how the twain have met as most journalists who cover the issue.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He’s also not an ideologue when it comes to the subject of TNCs -- he used to drive for Uber Taxi, a service that connects riders with cabs. And he attempted to join UberX by buying a car financed through an Uber program, but abandoned the effort when he couldn’t find the appropriate insurance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_10426092\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 400px\">\u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/02/mike_lyft.jpg\">\u003cimg class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-10426092\" src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/02/mike_lyft-400x225.jpg\" alt=\"Mike Banko has been a driver for Lyft since December 2012. (Adam Grossberg/KQED)\" width=\"400\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2016/02/mike_lyft-400x225.jpg 400w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2016/02/mike_lyft-800x450.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2016/02/mike_lyft.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mike Banko has been a driver for Lyft since December 2012. (Adam Grossberg/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Insurance factored into our choice of Lyft driver Mike Banko. He’s just about the only ride-service driver we’ve met who’s willing to be named in an interview, let alone in a video. That’s because so many drivers are fearful their personal auto coverage will be canceled if their insurer finds out they’re using their vehicle for ride-service work. You’ll see in the video that Mike tells us straight up he hasn’t informed his insurance company about his job.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One thing you won't see in the video, but is an important part of any day in the life of someone who hauls passengers for a living: When we accompanied the drivers on their shifts, it was easy to see how dangerous driving in this crowded city has become. Both these guys appeared to drive very safely, yet traversing the city streets, dodging pedestrians, bikes and vehicles, it was not hard at all to imagine something occurring that would forever change multiple lives in the blink of an eye.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I'm not sure the TNC drivers fully understood that when they originally signed up -- but I think those who have stuck with it now do.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Here's our \"day in the life\" video comparing the experiences of driving a taxi and driving for Lyft. You'll see that the drivers comment on many of the issues in the ongoing \u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/news/2013/11/07/taxis-lyft-ride-service-war-on-streets-of-san-francisco\" target=\"_blank\">battle between taxis and ride services\u003c/a>: the loss of business for the taxis, the lack of insurance for the ride-service drivers, and how Lyft and Uber have been able to exploit the weaknesses of the taxi industry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One of the many interesting things about covering this story for a couple of years now is seeing the evolution of attitudes on the part of those on the front lines of the conflict.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To be sure, many cab drivers still despise Uber/Lyft and the part-time workers who have scooped up a substantial portion of their customers by driving their own vehicles, no less. And it’s true that some cab drivers would still rather pick up a drunken, carsick barbershop quartet than try to stake a claim in the “sharing economy.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_10426093\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/02/rideshare1.jpg\">\u003cimg class=\"size-medium wp-image-10426093\" src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/02/rideshare1-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"Looking back through one of the sideview mirrors on John Han's taxicab. (Adam Grossberg/KQED)\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2016/02/rideshare1-800x450.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2016/02/rideshare1-400x225.jpg 400w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2016/02/rideshare1.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Looking back through one of the sideview mirrors on John Han's taxicab. (Adam Grossberg/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But over the past year, many who used to drive taxis have been jumping ship to the upstart companies, leaving their former employers struggling to fill shifts. Obviously, many think they'll get a better deal working on their own. (You'll see in the video that cab drivers start every day in the hole, since they are responsible for renting the cab.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On the ride-service side, when I talked to a group of Lyft drivers in 2013, just about every one felt like like they’d stumbled upon the greatest part-time job in the world. Good pay -- $25-40 per hour -- plus a cherished ability to literally work whenever they want with absolutely no notice required.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Troubles Mount for TNCs\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Eighteen months later, while the honeymoon may not be completely over, it’s at least on the return flight home where they're skimping on the peanuts. \u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/news/2014/01/02/122446/\" target=\"_blank\">Fatal accidents\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/news/2013/11/14/who-pays-when-ride-share-driver-crashes\" target=\"_blank\">insurance gaps\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-01-30/uber-drivers-may-have-employee-status-judge-says\" target=\"_blank\">lawsuits\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"http://www.thesmokinggun.com/buster/battery/uber-driver-arrested-for-groping-passenger-897561\" target=\"_blank\">criminal incidents\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/news/2014/11/13/as-regulatory-battles-continue-uber-and-lyft-win-some-lose-some\" target=\"_blank\">regulatory hassles\u003c/a> and an influx of drivers leading to \u003ca href=\"http://www.vox.com/2014/12/17/7402311/lyft-driver-pay\" target=\"_blank\">diminished pay\u003c/a>, not to mention the grind of driving hour upon hour day after day, have -- as some cab drivers had predicted would happen -- combed a few hairs out of the famous pink mustache.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_10426091\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\" style=\"max-width: 400px\">\u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/02/john_cab.jpg\">\u003cimg class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-10426091\" src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/02/john_cab-400x225.jpg\" alt=\"John Han has been a cab driver in San Francisco for 13 years. (Adam Grossberg/KQED)\" width=\"400\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2016/02/john_cab-400x225.jpg 400w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2016/02/john_cab-800x450.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2016/02/john_cab.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">John Han has been a cab driver in San Francisco for 13 years. (Adam Grossberg/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>We picked John Han of Yellow Cab to follow around for several reasons. A former blogger on taxi issues, he’s as well versed on the issues concerning cabs, TNCs and how the twain have met as most journalists who cover the issue.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He’s also not an ideologue when it comes to the subject of TNCs -- he used to drive for Uber Taxi, a service that connects riders with cabs. And he attempted to join UberX by buying a car financed through an Uber program, but abandoned the effort when he couldn’t find the appropriate insurance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_10426092\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 400px\">\u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/02/mike_lyft.jpg\">\u003cimg class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-10426092\" src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/02/mike_lyft-400x225.jpg\" alt=\"Mike Banko has been a driver for Lyft since December 2012. (Adam Grossberg/KQED)\" width=\"400\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2016/02/mike_lyft-400x225.jpg 400w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2016/02/mike_lyft-800x450.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2016/02/mike_lyft.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mike Banko has been a driver for Lyft since December 2012. (Adam Grossberg/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Insurance factored into our choice of Lyft driver Mike Banko. He’s just about the only ride-service driver we’ve met who’s willing to be named in an interview, let alone in a video. That’s because so many drivers are fearful their personal auto coverage will be canceled if their insurer finds out they’re using their vehicle for ride-service work. You’ll see in the video that Mike tells us straight up he hasn’t informed his insurance company about his job.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One thing you won't see in the video, but is an important part of any day in the life of someone who hauls passengers for a living: When we accompanied the drivers on their shifts, it was easy to see how dangerous driving in this crowded city has become. Both these guys appeared to drive very safely, yet traversing the city streets, dodging pedestrians, bikes and vehicles, it was not hard at all to imagine something occurring that would forever change multiple lives in the blink of an eye.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I'm not sure the TNC drivers fully understood that when they originally signed up -- but I think those who have stuck with it now do.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"info": "What kind of no sabo word is Hyphenación? For us, it’s about living within a hyphenation. Like being a third-gen Mexican-American from the Texas border now living that Bay Area Chicano life. Like Xorje! Each week we bring together a couple of hyphenated Latinos to talk all about personal life choices: family, careers, relationships, belonging … everything is on the table. ",
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"info": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown brings listeners the wisdom of the former Governor, Mayor, and presidential candidate. Scott Shafer interviewed Brown for more than 40 hours, covering the former governor's life and half-century in the political game – and Brown has some lessons he'd like to share. ",
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"info": "The MindShift podcast explores the innovations in education that are shaping how kids learn. Hosts Ki Sung and Katrina Schwartz introduce listeners to educators, researchers, parents and students who are developing effective ways to improve how kids learn. We cover topics like how fed-up administrators are developing surprising tactics to deal with classroom disruptions; how listening to podcasts are helping kids develop reading skills; the consequences of overparenting; and why interdisciplinary learning can engage students on all ends of the traditional achievement spectrum. This podcast is part of the MindShift education site, a division of KQED News. KQED is an NPR/PBS member station based in San Francisco. You can also visit the MindShift website for episodes and supplemental blog posts or tweet us \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/MindShiftKQED\">@MindShiftKQED\u003c/a> or visit us at \u003ca href=\"/mindshift\">MindShift.KQED.org\u003c/a>",
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"info": "For decades, the process for how police police themselves has been inconsistent – if not opaque. In some states, like California, these proceedings were completely hidden. After a new police transparency law unsealed scores of internal affairs files, our reporters set out to examine these cases and the shadow world of police discipline. On Our Watch brings listeners into the rooms where officers are questioned and witnesses are interrogated to find out who this system is really protecting. Is it the officers, or the public they've sworn to serve?",
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"info": "Political Breakdown is a new series that explores the political intersection of California and the nation. Each week hosts Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos are joined with a new special guest to unpack politics -- with personality — and offer an insider’s glimpse at how politics happens.",
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"possible": {
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"info": "Possible is hosted by entrepreneur Reid Hoffman and writer Aria Finger. Together in Possible, Hoffman and Finger lead enlightening discussions about building a brighter collective future. The show features interviews with visionary guests like Trevor Noah, Sam Altman and Janette Sadik-Khan. Possible paints an optimistic portrait of the world we can create through science, policy, business, art and our shared humanity. It asks: What if everything goes right for once? How can we get there? Each episode also includes a short fiction story generated by advanced AI GPT-4, serving as a thought-provoking springboard to speculate how humanity could leverage technology for good.",
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"radiolab": {
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},
"rightnowish": {
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"title": "Rightnowish",
"tagline": "Art is where you find it",
"info": "Rightnowish digs into life in the Bay Area right now… ish. Journalist Pendarvis Harshaw takes us to galleries painted on the sides of liquor stores in West Oakland. We'll dance in warehouses in the Bayview, make smoothies with kids in South Berkeley, and listen to classical music in a 1984 Cutlass Supreme in Richmond. Every week, Pen talks to movers and shakers about how the Bay Area shapes what they create, and how they shape the place we call home.",
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"info": "The Snap Judgment radio show and podcast mixes real stories with killer beats to produce cinematic, dramatic radio. Snap's musical brand of storytelling dares listeners to see the world through the eyes of another. This is storytelling... with a BEAT!! Snap first aired on public radio stations nationwide in July 2010. Today, Snap Judgment airs on over 450 public radio stations and is brought to the airwaves by KQED & PRX.",
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"soldout": {
"id": "soldout",
"title": "SOLD OUT: Rethinking Housing in America",
"tagline": "A new future for housing",
"info": "Sold Out: Rethinking Housing in America",
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