Ridesharing companies such as Uber, Lyft, and SideCar face heavy opposition from licensed taxi companies. The collaborative consumption services don’t have their own cars but offer rides with existing transportation companies or individuals. Still, the taxi lobby fears that drivers will lose their monopoly on taxi services and therefore job security will not be granted. They suggest… Read more
In the city of Gravataí in the southern part of Brazil, instead of targeting real criminals, local government organized a special operation with thirty military officers and transit agents to arrest citizens who charged for rides as an extra source of income. The operation was organized not only by the Military Police but also by… Read more
SF72, San Francisco’s collaborative consumption-based disaster preparedness plan, is already being tested just weeks after launch. Employees of the Bay Area Rapid Transit have initiated a strike against unfair wages, shutting down the public transportation system just prior the July 4th holiday. Ride-sharing service Sidecar published a blogpost offering alternative commute options, and short-term office… Read more
The ridesharing regulatory debate has flared again—this time in Los Angeles with a cease and desist letter sent to Uber, Sidecar, and Lyft yesterday. The debate questions whether these services are in fact livery businesses (which require a license) or are simply digital marketplaces facilitating connections between drivers and riders. While this isn’t the first… Read more
Let the ride-sharing wars begin. Ride-sharing startup SideCar has raised $10 million in Series A financing from Google Ventures and Lightspeed Venture Partners to take on others in the space. SideCar plans to use the funding to build out its technology and move into new markets outside of its current San Francisco market later this… Read more