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Uber drivers can share their location with friends and family
It may have just snagged a new CEO in the form of Dara Khosrowshahi, but it's business as usual for Uber when it comes to its app. The company is introducing another driver-oriented feature in the form of "share my trip." If you've ever used the Uber app, you should recognize the option (as it's been available to riders for a while). Just like passengers, drivers can now share their location with friends and family with just a couple of taps. By enabling the option, chosen contacts will be able to see the driver on a map, along with his or her phone number, and license plate details. To keep any privacy concerns at bay, Uber won't share your route (or any other info about you) with the recipients.
Study shows Uber created some new taxi jobs, but hurt wages
One of the taxi industry's biggest complaints against its competition at ridesharing companies like Uber in Lyft is the idea that these newcomers have been siphoning away jobs from regularly employed taxi drivers. According to a new study of data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, however, that was not actually the case.
Uber will pay $20 million for exaggerating drivers' earnings
In yet another big settlement for the ride-hailing giant, Uber has agreed to pay a $20 million fee to resolve a case with the US Federal Trade Commission. According to the FTC's complaint, Uber intentionally exaggerated drivers' potential income and vehicle financing rates in order to attract new drivers to its platform.
Uber driver accused of raping an unconscious 17-year-old girl
An Uber driver in Southern California was charged Thursday with four felony counts of sexual assault for allegedly raping an unconscious 17-year-old girl as he drove her home to Laguna Beach early Saturday morning. The suspect, 23-year-old Samer Alaaeldin Mahran, is currently being held on $100,000 bail and could face a maximum sentence of up to 28 years in prison if convicted.
Uber will pay riders $384,000 due to its misleading tip policy
For a brief, one-year period, Uber's marketing materials stated that the company's ride-hailing app automatically charged users a 20 percent tip for drivers. Unfortunately for drivers and users, Uber was actually taking a 40 to 50 percent cut of that tip – a fact which led to a lawsuit claiming the company was misleading consumers. According to Bloomberg Technology, US District Judge Edward Chen in San Francisco just approved Uber's proposed $384,000 settlement with 47,000 users that will essentially refund all of those pilfered "tips."
Uber affirms tipping drivers 'is not expected or required'
In most parts of the world, tipping for certain services has been a long-standing tradition. Still, Uber made sure that was never the case between its riders and drivers, unless a yellow taxi was involved. But after a recent $100 million class-action settlement in the US, speculation grew that Uber would start encouraging tips. Not so fast. Today, in a Medium post and an email sent to users, Uber clarified that tipping isn't expected or required, citing a hassle-free experience as to why it doesn't give riders the option to add a tip to their fares.
Uber drivers' rates protest takes to the SF streets
The Uber drivers are milling around in the parking lot of the now demolished Candlestick Park and they're antsy. But mostly, they're pissed. They're making less than when they first started driving for the company. Their leader Mario (last name withheld) shows up a few minutes before the 2pm meeting time followed by an additional 20 cars. The group crowds around him as he hands out fliers and peppers him with questions. They're getting organized to show the ride-sharing platform how upset they are and in the process, screw up traffic in San Francisco.
