WEATHER ALERT
Lyft pays $2.1 million to settle case alleging the ride-hailing service deceived drivers
Read full article: Lyft pays $2.1 million to settle case alleging the ride-hailing service deceived driversLyft is paying $2.1 million to settle a lawsuit accusing the ride-hailing service of exaggerating how much money drivers could make while the company was trying to recover from a steep downturn in demand during the pandemic.
Family of Georgia Lyft driver haven’t heard from him since he was hired to drive nearly 400 miles to Jacksonville
Read full article: Family of Georgia Lyft driver haven’t heard from him since he was hired to drive nearly 400 miles to JacksonvilleThe search is on for a missing Lyft driver who was hired to drive to Jacksonville from Cherokee County, Georgia.
Massachusetts ballot question would give Uber and Lyft drivers right to form a union
Read full article: Massachusetts ballot question would give Uber and Lyft drivers right to form a unionDrivers for ride-hailing companies in Massachusetts are pushing ahead with what they describe as a first-of-its-kind ballot question that could win them union rights if approved by voters.
Uber and Lyft agree to pay drivers $32.50 per hour in Massachusetts settlement
Read full article: Uber and Lyft agree to pay drivers $32.50 per hour in Massachusetts settlementMassachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell says drivers for Uber and Lyft will earn a minimum pay standard of $32.50 per hour under a settlement.
Uber and Lyft say they won't leave Minnesota after all — and drivers are getting a raise
Read full article: Uber and Lyft say they won't leave Minnesota after all — and drivers are getting a raiseUber and Lyft announced they will keep operating in Minnesota, now that state lawmakers have passed a measure that will increase driver pay to a level the companies can accept.
Here’s what we know about Uber and Lyft’s planned exit from Minneapolis in May
Read full article: Here’s what we know about Uber and Lyft’s planned exit from Minneapolis in MayThe future of Uber and Lyft in Minneapolis has garnered concern and debate in recent weeks after the City Council voted last month to require that ride-hailing companies pay drivers a higher rate while they are within city limits.
Things to know about Uber and Lyft saying they will halt ride-hailing services in Minneapolis
Read full article: Things to know about Uber and Lyft saying they will halt ride-hailing services in MinneapolisLyft and Uber have said they will halt operations in Minneapolis because of a new city ordinance that increases wages for app-based drivers.
Lyft and Uber say they will leave Minneapolis after city council forces them to pay drivers more
Read full article: Lyft and Uber say they will leave Minneapolis after city council forces them to pay drivers moreLyft and Uber say they will cease operations in Minneapolis after the city’s council voted Thursday to override a mayoral veto and require ride-hailing services to increase driver wages to the equivalent of the local hourly minimum wage of $15.57.
Date night strike: Thousands of US, UK delivery, ride-hailing drivers stop work on Valentine's Day
Read full article: Date night strike: Thousands of US, UK delivery, ride-hailing drivers stop work on Valentine's DayThousands of ride-hailing and delivery workers in the U.S. and the U.K. went on strike on Valentine's Day in an effort to win better pay.
New rule tightens worker classification standards; Uber, Lyft say their drivers won't be affected
Read full article: New rule tightens worker classification standards; Uber, Lyft say their drivers won't be affectedThe Biden administration has enacted a new labor rule that aims to prevent the misclassification of workers as “independent contractors,” a step that could bolster both legal protections and compensation for millions in the U.S. workforce.
Jacksonville airport parking ‘completely full,’ alternative transportation recommended
Read full article: Jacksonville airport parking ‘completely full,’ alternative transportation recommendedThere are no more places to park at Jacksonville International Airport (JAX), the airport announced Friday morning.
Uber and Lyft to pay $328 million to settle dispute over taxes and fees paid by New York drivers
Read full article: Uber and Lyft to pay $328 million to settle dispute over taxes and fees paid by New York driversRide-hailing companies Uber and Lyft will pay a combined $328 million to settle complaints that they improperly saddled their New York drivers with taxes and fees that should have been been paid by passengers.
Man arrested for pointing a gun at his Lyft driver and pulling the trigger, the gun didn’t go off
Read full article: Man arrested for pointing a gun at his Lyft driver and pulling the trigger, the gun didn’t go offA 24-year-old Bunnell man was arrested Monday morning after a Lyft driver said he pointed a gun at their head and pulled the trigger. Fortunately the gun clicked, but didn't go off.
Lyft to pick up new CEO amid deepening post-pandemic losses
Read full article: Lyft to pick up new CEO amid deepening post-pandemic lossesLyft co-founders Logan Green and John Zimmer are relinquishing their leadership roles to make way for a former Amazon executive as the ride-hailing service struggles to recover from the pandemic while long-time rival Uber has been regaining its momentum.
Judge: California ride-hailing law is unconstitutional
Read full article: Judge: California ride-hailing law is unconstitutionalA judge has struck down California’s ballot measure that exempted Uber and other companies from a state law requiring their drivers to be classified as employees eligible for benefits and job protections.
Toyota acquires Lyft's self-driving unit for $550 million
Read full article: Toyota acquires Lyft's self-driving unit for $550 millionToyota Motor Corp. has acquired the self-driving division of American ride-hailing company Lyft for $550 million, in a move that highlights the Japanese automaker’s ambitions in that technology.
Uber, Lyft team up on database to expose abusive drivers
Read full article: Uber, Lyft team up on database to expose abusive driversUber and Lyft have teamed up to create a database of drivers ousted from their ride-hailing services for complaints about sexual assault and other crimes that have raised passenger-safety concerns for years. The clearinghouse unveiled Thursday, March 11, will initially list drivers expelled by the ride-hailing rivals in the U.S. The clearinghouse unveiled Thursday will initially list drivers expelled by the ride-hailing rivals in the U.S. It could also help appease U.S. lawmakers, who have criticized Uber and Lyft in the past for inadequate safety protections for their riders. After Uber rebuffed the request to protect the victims' privacy, the agency slapped the company with a $59 million fine.
California court rejects lawsuit challenging ride-share vote
Read full article: California court rejects lawsuit challenging ride-share voteFILE - In this Jan. 12, 2016, file photo, a ride-share car displays Lyft and Uber stickers on its front windshield in downtown Los Angeles. The California Supreme Court has rejected a challenge to the ballot measure that kept app-based ride-hailing and delivery drivers independent contractors instead of employees eligible for benefits and job protections. The court on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021, declined to hear the case brought by drivers and unions who had opposed the measure. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel, File)LOS ANGELES – The California Supreme Court rejected a lawsuit Wednesday that sought to overturn a ballot measure that makes app-based ride-hailing and delivery drivers independent contractors instead of employees eligible for benefits and job protections. “We’re thankful, but not surprised, that the California Supreme Court has rejected this meritless lawsuit,” said Jim Pyatt, a Modesto retiree who drives for Uber, in a statement from a group that supports Proposition 22.
Some Uber, Lyft drivers sue over California ballot measure
Read full article: Some Uber, Lyft drivers sue over California ballot measureThe measure, which was passed in November with 58% support, was the most expensive in state history with Uber, Lyft and other services pouring $200 million in support of it. “Generally speaking, courts in California don't like to overturn the will of the people,” Moylan said. There are instances where the California courts have come in and said ... it's nice that this is what the people wanted to do, but our constitution doesn't permit the people to do this." The law expanded a California Supreme Court ruling that limited businesses from classifying certain workers as independent contractors. Another claim in the lawsuit alleges the measure violates a rule limiting ballot measures to a single subject.
Farah & Farah offers free rides it in Jacksonville, St. Augustine on NYE
Read full article: Farah & Farah offers free rides it in Jacksonville, St. Augustine on NYEThe personal injury law firm Farah & Farah announced the return of Farah Free NYE Rides. Holiday party-goers in Jacksonville and St. Augustine can count on Farah & Farah for a free ride to and from their celebrations via a $50 Lyft credit, or a cab ride within a 40-mile radius via Clean Taxi and zTrip. Click here to claim a free voucherThe Farah Free NYE Rides credit will be available on Thursday, December 31, starting at 8 p.m. until 4 a.m. on New Year’s Day. Residents of Jacksonville and St. Augustine are encouraged to claim their free voucher at FarahandFarah.com/NYE and to share this opportunity to get home safe and sound (for free) with their local friends and family. “Despite the pandemic, millions of Floridians will be on the roads this New Year’s Eve, and our goal is to help keep them safe,” said Eddie Farah, founder, and managing partner at Farah & Farah.
Asian shares slip on faltering hopes for COVID vaccines
Read full article: Asian shares slip on faltering hopes for COVID vaccinesStocks fell back across Asia on Thursday after gains for big technology shares pushed most Wall Street benchmarks higher. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index gained 0.4% to 25,459.13 despite a report that machinery orders fell in September, suggesting weakness in corporate investment. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index fell 0.1% to 26,206.78 and the Shanghai Composite index declined 0.3% to 3,332.24. Markets have been riding a wave of relief over hopes for a potential vaccine to beat back the pandemic. Strategists along Wall Street are raising their forecasts for stock prices on expectations that political control of Washington will remain split between the parties.
Ride-hailing, delivery giants win fight against labor law
Read full article: Ride-hailing, delivery giants win fight against labor lawUber, Lyft, Doordash, Instacart and others sought to get out of those requirements, and after failing in court, succeeded in convincing voters to give them an exemption from most of the year-old law’s provisions. A record $200 million spending spree by the companies and their supporters helped them win the vote. The investment yielded a huge return for Uber and Lyft, whose combined market value climbed by $10 billion on Wednesday. Uber told its drivers the company would let drivers know how to enroll in benefits in the next few weeks. “It’s not really fair that Uber, Lyft etc.
California court says Uber, Lyft drivers are employees
Read full article: California court says Uber, Lyft drivers are employeesSAN FRANCISCO – A California appeals court on Thursday upheld an order requiring Uber and Lyft to treat their California drivers as employees instead of independent contractors, less than two weeks before voters will be asked to exempt the ride-hailing giants from the state's gig economy law. Uber and Lyft — who along with DoorDash have heavily bankrolled the ballot measure — had appealed an August preliminary injunction by a San Francisco judge. Uber and Lyft issued statements noting that the ruling doesn't take immediate affect and urging voters to approve Prop. Treating Uber and Lyft drivers as employees instead of independent contractors would guarantee benefits such as overtime, sick leave and expense reimbursement for workers who make up much of the freewheeling gig economy. Lawyers for Uber and Lyft say drivers are not fundamental to the business, arguing the companies are “multi-sided platforms” whose activities encompass much more than transportation.
Uber, Lyft look to kill California law on app-based drivers
Read full article: Uber, Lyft look to kill California law on app-based driversVoters are being asked to decide via Proposition 22 whether to create an exemption to a new state law aimed at providing wage and benefit protections to Uber, Lyft and other app-based drivers. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)LOS ANGELES – Californians are being asked decide if Uber, Lyft and other app-based drivers should remain independent contractors or be eligible for the benefits that come with being company employees. Voters are weighing whether to create an exemption to a new state law aimed at providing wage and benefit protections to drivers. Uber and Lyft, both headquartered in San Francisco, have said they may leave the state if the measure fails. Uber and Lyft have maintained that their drivers meet the criteria to be independent contractors, not employees.
Health insurer to offer Lyft rides
Read full article: Health insurer to offer Lyft ridesTALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida Blue announced that Affordable Care Act customers will have access to Lyft rides as part of the benefits package in individual health-insurance policies, beginning Feb. 1. The policyholders will have $100 in transportation benefits from Lyft, a ride-sharing service. Jacksonville-based Florida Blue, which offers Affordable Care Act policies in 67 counties, has sold individual policies to more than 1 million people in 2019 under the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare. That is out of more than 1.6 million people in Florida who have purchased individual policies on the Obamacare exchange this year. In a news release announcing the ride-sharing benefit, Florida Blue noted that people without reliable transportation can miss appointments.
Lyft is offering free rides so that people can go to job interviews
Read full article: Lyft is offering free rides so that people can go to job interviewsCNN(CNN) - Lyft announced a new initiative that will give riders free or discounted rides to work and during the first three weeks of employment. The Jobs Access Program looks to close the transportation gap in low-income communities, Lyft said in a statement. The rideshare company is partnering with national and local organizations -- including the National Down Syndrome Society and United Way -- to offer the program in over 35 markets in the US and Canada. The rideshare company cited a 2018 Oxford University Press study that said "children's opportunities for economic mobility are shaped by the neighborhoods in which they grow up." The company also cited their own study that shows "44% of Lyft rides start or end in low-income areas."
Woman Accidentally Leaves Her Baby in a Lyft
Read full article: Woman Accidentally Leaves Her Baby in a LyftA New Jersey woman accidentally left her baby in a Lyft. The woman, who was not identified, took the rideshare car on Wednesday night and accidentally got out of it without grabbing her child, according to city officials. Police were able to contact the Lyft driver who then pulled over and was met by police. The baby, whose age was not given, was apparently sleeping in the backseat so the driver didnt notice the baby was in the car. RELATED STORIESHow a Woman Exposed the Black-Market Baby Ring She Was Adopted Through: 'Keep Digging''Fighting Finn' Baby Born at Only 1 Pound Is Finally Home From HospitalBoy, 4, Has Adorable Photo Shoot With His Favorite Baby Doll
Driver's ed for robotaxis: A grueling exam looms for self-driving cars
Read full article: Driver's ed for robotaxis: A grueling exam looms for self-driving carsBut they still face an existential question: When is a self-driving car truly ready to drive on its own? Most Americans already aren't comfortable with the idea of riding in a self-driving car. No simulation, no self-driving carsCruise, GM's self-driving team, runs 200,000 hours of simulated tests every day. The Silicon Valley startup wanted its self-driving cars to better handle yellow left-turn signals, a rarity during on-road testing. The simulated cars weren't slowing for the pedestrian as much as its real-world cars.
Lyft tries to reassure riders with new safety measures
Read full article: Lyft tries to reassure riders with new safety measuresJustin Sullivan/Getty Images(CNN) - As it faces fresh concerns over sexual assaults by its drivers, Lyft issued an update on its safety features. The update comes at a time when the company tries to assure the public over its safety measures. Last week, 14 women sued it over the alleged mishandling of their sexual assault, sexual misconduct and rape complaints against drivers ordered through its app. Ongoing issuesLast week's lawsuit once again put the spotlight on the issue of sexual assault and abuse by ridehail drivers. She has become an advocate on the issue after experiencing harassment by several Lyft drivers.
14 women sue Lyft for allegedly mishandling assault, rape reports
Read full article: 14 women sue Lyft for allegedly mishandling assault, rape reportsKelly Sullivan/Getty Images for Lyft(CNN) - Fourteen women are suing Lyft over allegedly mishandling their sexual assault, sexual misconduct and rape complaints against drivers that occurred while using its service, bringing renewed attention to the issue of safety in the ride-hail industry. Many of the women say they were not informed whether the accused drivers would continue to work for Lyft. In one case detailed in the suit, a driver continued to work for the company after the female passenger reported a sexual assault to Lyft and to the police. "Sexual assault is a horrible crime that has no place anywhere," an Uber spokesperson said at the time. "We believe Lyft knows how many assaults occur within their cars and that is why they don't want Lyft rides recorded."
Woman Accused of Abducting Missing Toddler Claims Child's Father Wanted to Sell Her
Read full article: Woman Accused of Abducting Missing Toddler Claims Child's Father Wanted to Sell HerA rideshare driver accused of abducting a Pennsylvania toddler said the child's father wanted to sell the girl for thousands of dollars, authorities said. The search is on for 2-year-old Nalani Johnson, who was last seen in Sharena Nancys vehicle at the intersection of Bryant and Clay Drives in Penn Hills Saturday. Nancy said she then drove around, smoked cigarettes and talked on the phone with her husband, the complaint reportedly said. Nancys husband, MD Raihan Uddin, told KDKA his wife didnt take the child and claimed Johnson isnt telling the complete truth. Uber and Lyft reportedly told the station no one with Nancys name used their platforms over the weekend.
Police: Driver in missing toddler case says child sold for $10,000
Read full article: Police: Driver in missing toddler case says child sold for $10,000Johnson told detectives he tried calling the driver's cellphone multiple times but she never picked up, so he called 911 around 5 p.m. Police arrested driver Sharena Nancy, 25, in the vehicle during a traffic stop around 7:30 p.m. According to the complaint, Nancy told detectives that Johnson sold the child to an individual for $10,000 and asked her to complete the dropoff. Nancy said she was told the woman would then "flag" her down and Nancy was to turn over the toddler, the complaint says. Nancy told police she also saw a second woman inside the SUV.
Uber, Lyft offering free rides to and from Florida evacuation shelters
Read full article: Uber, Lyft offering free rides to and from Florida evacuation sheltersJACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Do you need to evacuate because of Hurricane Dorian and need a lift to the nearest shelter? Uber and Lyft are offering free round trips to and from shelters. To redeem the free trip, riders must use the Uber app and tap Payment, then scroll down to Promotions, tap Add Promo Code and enter code DORIANRELIEF. The good news for Uber drivers is that the promotion won't affect their earnings, according to Uber. LYFTFor Lyft, they are offering two free rides up to $15 each, until September 15.
WeWork files for IPO after losing $1.9 billion last year
Read full article: WeWork files for IPO after losing $1.9 billion last yearWeWork's parent company, The We Company, publicly filed paperwork on Wednesday to raise $1 billion in an initial public offering. The company is moving forward with its plans to go public despite losing a staggering $1.9 billion last year, according to its IPO prospectus, an unprecedented amount for a company about to go public. By comparison, Uber said it lost $1.8 billion in 2018 and Lyft lost $911 million. In the first half of 2019, the company lost $904 million, a roughly 25% increase from the same period in the prior year. In its filing, WeWork addresses how certain factors, such as declines in market rents, inability to negotiate satisfactory leases, or membership retention, could impact its business.
Uber burned through $5.2 billion last quarter
Read full article: Uber burned through $5.2 billion last quarterCNN imageSAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - Even by Uber's standards, the company burned through a staggering amount of money in its most recent quarter. Uber said Thursday that it lost $5.2 billion in the three months ending in June, its largest quarterly loss ever, fueled mostly by $3.9 billion in stock-based compensation expenses related to its public offering during the quarter. Without those charges, however, the company still lost about $1.3 billion during the quarter, a roughly 50% spike from the year prior. Khosrowshahi stressed that Uber's ride-hailing service, along with its meal delivery service, each have the potential to "be a spectacular business long-term." But even as it invests aggressively, Uber's revenue growth continues to slow.
NYC wants to cut back on Uber, Lyft cruising without passengers
Read full article: NYC wants to cut back on Uber, Lyft cruising without passengersThe idea is to cut down on under-use of drivers as well as to ease traffic. Regulatory changes in New York City could provide a model for other cities eager to rein in ridehailing firms that have increased congestion even as they've revolutionized transportation. Earlier this week, City Lab reported on a new Uber and Lyft joint analysis into how their vehicles are contributing to what's referred to as "vehicle-miles-traveled." While New York City was not included in the analysis, it's safe to say some cities may look to New York City for leadership on how to regulate their own streets. Uber asked that the city remove the limit so it can continue adding new vehicles to the road to support demand.
Lyft driver shot and killed on his 52nd wedding anniversary
Read full article: Lyft driver shot and killed on his 52nd wedding anniversaryKelly Sullivan/Getty Images for Lyft(CNN) - A 71-year-old man working for the rideshare service Lyft was fatally shot, police say, while driving in Phoenix on Sunday -- his 52nd wedding anniversary. Investigators believe that the gunshot came from outside Harold Treadwell's car at 12:32 a.m., Phoenix Police spokeswoman Sgt. There were no passengers in the car at the time, according to Lyft and Phoenix Police. "Today is our 52nd Wedding Anniversary and we spoke right before he was killed and wished each other a happy anniversary (thank you God for allowing me to have that last conversation with him so I could tell him that I loved him!)" "I feel like I am living a horrible, horrible nightmare and that any moment I will wake up!"
Was Missing College Student Working as a 'Sugar Baby'?
Read full article: Was Missing College Student Working as a 'Sugar Baby'?The search for a missing Utah college student continues as police searched the home of someone who may be connected to her sudden disappearance. Since her disappearance, its been reported that the University of Utah student was dating multiple people through online dating sites and apps, The Daily Mail reported. Lueck was a self-proclaimed sugar baby, according to Facebook comments published by the paper. If [they] don't know what a SD/SB is, tell them bluntly sugar daddy and sugar baby. I have some experience on seeking arrangements, online only, tinder, and currently have two lol, she wrote three months ago in the group.