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Rockville, Md.—Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association (TLPA) has launched a campaign to counteract the misinformation spread by Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar, and to help passengers with concerns about these unregulated transportation companies.
“Who’s Driving You?” is one part information portal for those seeking facts about the rise of the so-called “ridesharing” industry, and one part help desk for passengers concerned about the ugly side of Uber and its service UberX, as well as Lyft and Sidecar.
“Whatever these companies, their CEOs, or their Wall Street or Hollywood investors say in public tends to be taken as the gospel truth, and that’s just not the case,” says Robbie Werth, president of TLPA. “They say they are simply technology companies—yet they are taxi companies. They say they are insured—yet refuse to take responsibility for accidents. They say their drivers are properly screened—yet time and again we see convicted felons behind the wheel. We’ve had enough.”
The public can file an incident report based on their concerns over interactions with Uber, Lyft, or Sidecar in the cities in which these unregulated transportation companies operate. The report can be filed at whosdrivingyou.org. Website staff will immediately inform on how to file a complaint with local officials. The public is also encouraged to connect with the campaign on Facebook (WhosDrivingYou) and on Twitter (@WhosDrivingYou).
The campaign coincides with a new poll released last week that shows that Florida residents overwhelmingly want Uber to be regulated at the local level just like traditional taxi companies (78 percent). The research comes just as Florida lawmakers are being approached by Uber—possibly, some news reports say, to push for legislation that would effectively permit the company to operate statewide wherever it chooses, rather than be subject to city-by-city “home rule” regulations that govern the taxi industry.
The poll, commissioned by Orlando-based Mears Transportation Group, showed that among Floridians:
• 78 percent believe Uber should be subject to the same local city regulations as taxis.
• 69 percent said Uber’s fares should be regulated and therefore avoid Uber’s whimsical “surge-pricing.”
• 89 percent want to see Uber’s drivers go through the same background checks as taxi drivers.
• 92 percent insist that Uber carry traditional liability insurance the same as taxis.
The poll also points to troubling questions in terms of discriminatory service, quoting sociologist Dr. James Wright of the University of Central Florida as saying that “UBER-ineligible Floridians” are disproportionately Hispanic (59 percent), African American (55 percent), low income (70 percent), and elderly (64 percent). This is partially due to the fact that smartphone and credit card accessibility is lower among these populations, both of which are required to use the service. Uber also does not have a service for disabled riders, who could benefit greatly from the service.
The TLPA has been a vocal critic of Uber, its unlicensed amateur driver service, UberX, and of other unregulated transportation companies such as Lyft and Sidecar. The association has repeatedly warned that drivers for these services do not carry proper commercial auto liability insurance that is necessary in the for-hire industry; that drivers are not properly screened and fingerprinted in police-conducted background checks; and that residents in low-income neighborhoods and people with disabilities cannot avail themselves of the services.
Visit tlpa.org for more information.
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A screencap from OMLConnectChicago, Ill.—While many may agree that Uber was a wake-up call to the chauffeured ground transportation industry, the immediate strategy for response varies depending on who you talk to. While some prefer to attack it (and all other on-demand services) in court, others are trying to replicate the product. OML Worldwide Transportation (you may know them better as O’Hare-Midway Limousine Service) in Chicago has a different take on the situation.
For the last few years, OML has quietly been developing an interactive web app that allows its clients to connect, via any smartphone, directly with the dispatcher, bypassing the need to call for vehicle of driver information.
“There is an initial setup process, but once they are finished, a client can initiate the dispatch process by touching the screen on their phone,” says OML COO Dale Schahczinski. “It is really a unique product as far as I can tell. Our clients enjoy the ease of use, and the information sent from our proprietary software includes not only vehicle description but also the chauffeur’s information—including a photo.”
Schahczinski elaborated: “We aren’t trying to compete with, or be, an Uber. We went into this project, called OMLConnect, with the intention that our app should be a convenience for our current clientele as opposed to something meant to attract new customers. It would also a useful tool for our affiliates if they chose to use it.”
Future releases of the app are planned already, and as the needs of its customers change, so will OMLConnect.
Visit ohare-midway.com for more information.
3/14
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Lumberton, N.J.—New Jersey Senator Nicholas Sacco, Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee; Assemblywoman Angelica Jimenez, Sacco’s running mate and member of the Assembly Transportation Committee; and Assemblyman Charles Mainor, Chairman of Law and Public Safety Committee and member of the Transportation Committee are working closely with the Limousine Association of New Jersey’s (LANJ) Legislative Committee. This committee includes President James Moseley or TripTracker, Legislative Chair and Vice President Jeff Shanker of A-1 Limousine, PAC Treasurer Pete Corelli of Lakeview Custom Coach, Board member Paul Rosenberg, and Executive Director Barry Lefkowitz. The legislators are getting the assistance of LANJ to craft a bill that will create a level playing field. Limousine companies are being challenged by the Atlantic City Jitneys, which are violating state law in operating out of their prescribed jurisdiction; conducting inter-state business (without US DOT authority); and acting as limousines by contracting weddings, parties, and various other activities that are supposed to be carved out for limousine service.
Additionally, the group has been tasked with developing language in legislation to help with the serious problem in Hudson and Union counties with vehicles calling themselves jitneys but in reality are autobuses. These autobuses are operating with little guidance and/or restrictions in North Jersey and became the focus of attention when an eight-month-old baby was killed by one of these vehicles.
LANJ hopes to have the amending language ready for A847 (pre-filed bill from last session) within the next couple of weeks as it prepares to come up with a definition of autobus that does not affect charter bus work.
Another front on which LANJ is diligently laboring is on the Commercial Motor Vehicle Tax issue in New York City. Led by Executive Director Barry Lefkowitz, General Counsel Matt Daus, and President Emeritus Tim Rose are working with the City Councilman Yadanis Rodriquez, Chairman of the NYC Transportation Committee, to change the onerous requirements of NYC’s commercial motor vehicle (CMV) tax. There is a March 12 work session with the Chairman in New York that will be in preparation for a March hearing. Under the old ordinance, LANJ members had to pay upfront the entire tax for two years. Under the new ordinance, when passed, limousine operators will now be able to pay on a quarterly basis. The paperwork will also be completely simplified and be much easier to handle on a fleet basis rather than on an individual vehicle.
And finally, LANJ Executive Director Barry Lefkowitz has received several complaints recently about the use of the cell lot and chauffeurs circling the airport at Newark waiting to pick up clients. A meeting has been requested at the Port Authority to address this issue.
Visit lanj.org for more information.
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