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☆ Are taxis safer with no driver? These women think so.
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-08 | by ( David Ingram | David Ingram Is A Tech Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +11 min

Autonomous taxis are winning over women in cities like San Francisco by offering an answer to a long-standing concern about ride-hailing apps: misbehavior by human drivers, especially men. Now, those driver safety concerns are helping to fuel the popularity of autonomous taxis — especially for women traveling alone or at night. About three-quarters of Lyft and Uber drivers are men, according to industry and academic surveys. Lyft said in a statement to NBC News that it continues to try to improve safety, including with driver background checks, driver ratings, driver education and an emergency phone line for passengers. In 2023, Lyft started a feature, Women+ Connect, that allows women or nonbinary drivers to opt in to prefer riders who are women or nonbinary, and vice versa.

Persons: they’ve, Veronica Pastore, it’s, “ I’ve, ’ ”, Pastore, “ It’s, ”, they’d, they’re, Abby Vigil, she’s, Robotaxis, driverless, “, Jason Munderloh, ” Waymo, Lyft, Uber, Waymo, ” Uber, Dara Khosrowshahi, Diana Taurasi, Megan Neese, Neese, Amazon’s, Elon Musk, Jayka Noelle, Noelle, TikTok, DaBabyBoomers, Cheryl Baxter, Beth Bowles Organizations: San Francisco, Gig Workers, Rider, NBC News, CNBC, Phoenix Mercury, Google, Motors ’, Tesla Locations: San Francisco, Lyft, San, ”, —, U.S, Atlanta, Austin , Texas, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Austin, Scottsdale , Arizona

Uber announced Friday it is expanding its partnership with Alphabet’s Waymo to offer robotaxi rides in Austin, Texas, and Atlanta beginning in early 2025. Uber riders in those cities can be matched with a driverless Waymo car for some trips, according to the companies. A Waymo spokesperson said it had no plans to partner with Uber in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Uber’s initial agreement with Waymo in Phoenix also included autonomous Uber Eats deliveries in the city. Some analysts were more hopeful for a potential Uber and Waymo expansion into San Francisco.

Persons: Uber, Alphabet’s Waymo, Tesla’s, Bernstein, Waymo, “ We’re, ” Uber, Dara Khosrowshahi, Tekedra Mawakana, “ We’ve, GM’s Cruise, Cruise, Wells, Ken Gawrelski Organizations: Uber, Waymo, Atlanta, Google Locations: Austin , Texas, Atlanta, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin, San Francisco , Los Angeles

☆ Minnesota lawmakers strike minimum pay deal for Uber, Lyft drivers
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Eva Rothenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Minnesota government officials have struck a deal with rideshare companies Uber and Lyft to set minimum wage standards for drivers, lawmakers announced Saturday night. The rule was delayed after Lyft and Uber warned they would leave Minneapolis. State lawmakers have been focused on compromising with the companies before a July 1 deadline. Under the new agreement, the statewide minimum wage rate for rideshare drivers will be $1.28 per mile and $0.31 per minute. “We applaud the tens of thousands of riders & drivers who sent close to 100,000 emails to legislators — your voices were heard.

Persons: Uber, Lyft, Jamie Long, ” Long, ”, Erin Murphy, Josh Gold Organizations: New, New York CNN, Minnesota, Democratic, Minneapolis City Council, Governor Locations: New York, Minnesota, Minneapolis, State

☆ Uber will now let you book a shuttle to the airport
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Clare Duffy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Uber wants to make it cheaper to get a ride to the airport, concerts or sporting events. The rideshare company on Wednesday announced the launch of Uber Shuttle, an offering that will let users book up to five seats in a shuttle from a central location to an event or the airport – for less than the cost of a regular Uber ride. The cost of the shuttle rides won’t be affected by surge pricing, a common affliction when lots of people are looking for rides at the same time. Uber has previously rolled out early shuttle tests, including in India, and as an offering for corporate customers. Uber Shuttle will let riders book up to five seats in a shuttle to the airport or a concert or sporting event, for less than the cost of a regular Uber ride.

Persons: New York CNN — Uber, Uber, Dara Khosrowshahi, Camiel Irving Organizations: New, New York CNN, Wednesday, Uber Shuttle, Costco, Lyft Locations: New York, India, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Charlotte, Miami, New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Atlanta, Canada

☆ Minneapolis gives Uber and Lyft a reason to stick around — at least until July
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Lyft and Uber might hit reverse on plans to leave Minneapolis on May 1 over a new minimum wage for rideshare drivers set to go into effect on that day, if a city council measure passes Thursday. The issue stems from a March decision by the city council to override the mayor’s veto of a minimum wage for rideshare drivers, set at the local minimum wage of $15.57 an hour. The ordinance mandates rideshare drivers make at least $1.40 per mile and $0.51 per minute within Minneapolis. Now some council members want to amend the ordinance and lower the per-mile rate to $1.21, but maintain the proposed per-minute rate of $0.51. With this amendment, we can accomplish those goals.”The statement was released by Council President Elliott Payne and Council Members Katie Cashman and Aurin Chowdhury.

Persons: New York CNN — Lyft, Uber, Lyft, ” Uber, Jacob Frey, Frey, KARE, Elliott Payne, Katie Cashman, Aurin Chowdhury, Lyft didn’t Organizations: New, New York CNN, Minneapolis City, Twin, CNN, Minneapolis Star, Tribune Locations: New York, Minneapolis, Twin Cities, Minnesota

Thousands of ride-hailing and delivery workers in the U.S. and the U.K. went on strike on Valentine's Day, calling for higher pay and other changes to their working conditions. In the U.S., Uber and Lyft drivers planned daylong strikes in Chicago; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Miami; Orlando and Tampa, Florida; Hartford, Connecticut; Newark, New Jersey; Austin, Texas; and Providence, Rhode Island. Drivers were also holding midday demonstrations at airports in those cities, according to Justice for App Workers, the group organizing the effort. Meanwhile, U.K. delivery drivers for Uber Eats, Deliveroo, Just Eat and Stuart said they would turn off their apps and refuse deliveries between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. Justice for App Workers, which says it represents 130,000 ride-hailing and delivery workers, is seeking higher wages, access to health care and an appeals process so companies can’t deactivate drivers without warning.

Persons: Uber, Stuart, ”, Evadur Rahman, Rahman, “, ” Rahman, “ It’s, ” Uber, Deliveroo, Rachel Gumpert, Lyft, ” Lyft, Jill Lawless, Brian Melley Organizations: App Workers, Associated Press, deactivations, U.S, ___ Associated Press Locations: U.S, Chicago, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Miami, Orlando, Tampa , Florida, Hartford , Connecticut, Newark , New Jersey, Austin , Texas, Providence , Rhode Island, London, ___

New York CNN —Lyft and Uber threatened to stop doing business in Minneapolis after the city council adopted a new rule Thursday that would set a minimum wage for rideshare drivers. In a 7-5 vote, the Minneapolis City Council passed an ordinance that includes a number of rideshare worker protections, including a minimum wage for Uber and Lyft drivers. Minneapolis is debating the minimum wage as gig workers across the country are advocating for fair wages and job benefits. Uber sent an email to its drivers on Monday, urging them to contact the Mayor and City Council to ask them to oppose the move. Uber said its drivers sent over 700 emails on Thursday, but did not specify what was in those emails.

Persons: New York CNN — Lyft, Uber, Jacob Frey, Lyft, “, ”, Frey, ” Uber, Ally Peters, Mayor Frey Organizations: New, New York CNN, Minneapolis City Council, Uber, CNN, Mayor, City Council, New York City Locations: New York, Minneapolis, City, California

☆ Uber’s post-pandemic growth is slowing
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Catherine Thorbecke | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

New York CNN —Uber has reported that its revenue ticked up 14% last quarter, marking a slower pace of growth than recent quarters when sales surged as riders returned to pre-pandemic habits. The company on Tuesday reported revenue of $9.2 billion for the quarter ending in June, a 14% increase from the same period last year, just missing Wall Street’s estimates. The company, reported its first-ever unadjusted operating profit, of $326 million. Trips during the quarter grew 22% to 2.3 billion, or approximately 25 million trips per day on average. “Robust demand, new growth initiatives, and continued cost discipline resulted in an excellent quarter,” Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said in a statement accompanying the results.

Persons: New York CNN — Uber, Uber, ” Uber, Dara Khosrowshahi, ” Khosrowshahi Organizations: New, New York CNN Locations: New York

☆ Uber and Lyft Claim Big Gains for Their Ad Businesses
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Patrick Coffee | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +4 min

Ride-hailing companies Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. each say their nascent advertising businesses have grown significantly in recent months. PREVIEWThe ride-hailing rivals’ ad businesses are also important for the companies’ growth. Uber said increased ad revenue in the latest quarter was a key growth driver for its overall business. Lyft ad revenue increased “nearly seven times” in the fourth quarter compared with the previous quarter, according to Mr. Greenberger. But the companies’ ad prices offer a glimpse at their respective positions in the market.

A former Denver Lyft driver has been charged with sexually assaulting multiple women over the course of almost four years, the district attorney said Wednesday. John Pastor-Mendoza, 41, of Denver, allegedly assaulted or attempted to assault 10 women who had requested rides, Denver District Attorney Beth McCann said in a statement. “The behavior described is absolutely appalling, and the driver has been permanently removed from the Lyft community,” a Lyft spokesperson said Wednesday. In one case, a woman from Boulder requested a ride and the app showed a woman driver would be arriving. People there recognized the description as a regular patron who was a Lyft driver and said they would report sightings to police, the affidavit says.

☆ What’s that bag of white stuff? Some Uber drivers worry they’re drug mules
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( David Ingram | David Ingram Covers Tech For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +15 min

And a sheriff’s office in Tampa sent a crystalized substance to a Florida state lab for testing after an Uber Connect driver turned it over in April. Uber said that using its services for illegal activity is expressly prohibited, and that it takes reports of drug deliveries via Uber Connect very seriously. Some Uber Connect drivers have gone to the police with suspicions about packages they are assigned to deliver. “You’re almost certainly getting arrested in that situation.”Richman said it’s difficult to generalize about how much trouble an Uber Connect driver could get in. Uber said it was always looking for ways to improve Uber Connect, and drivers said they have several suggestions for changes.

☆ ‘Grand Theft Auto’ leaks emerge online after publisher hit by ‘network intrusion’
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-19 | by ( Catherine Thorbecke | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN Business —Rockstar Games confirmed on Monday that hackers had leaked some unreleased footage from its next iteration of the wildly popular “Grand Theft Auto” franchise. The video gaming community was rocked by the emergence online of some screenshots and game-play videos purportedly from the highly-anticipated next installment of “Grand Theft Auto,” an action-adventure game. On Monday morning, the video game publisher confirmed the footage was real and had been leaked as the result of a “network intrusion.”“We recently suffered a network intrusion in which an unauthorized third party illegally accessed and downloaded confidential information from our systems, including early development footage for the next Grand Theft Auto,” Rockstar Games announced in a statement posted to Twitter. In a blog post Monday, Uber (UBER) reported that its hacker was believed to be affiliated with the group Lapsus$, which has targeted a number of large businesses over the past year. “There are also reports over the weekend that this same actor breached video game maker Rockstar Games,” Uber’s statement on Monday added.

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