INSIDER
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.
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.
Lyft driver sues company for $1M after being abducted, sexually assaulted by armed rider with long criminal history
Read full article: Lyft driver sues company for $1M after being abducted, sexually assaulted by armed rider with long criminal historyA Houston area woman has filed a lawsuit against Lyft after she was held at gunpoint, kidnapped and sexually assaulted by a rider while working for the company, according to the lawsuit.
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.
Experiencing rideshare surge pricing? Here’s some alternatives for those who want to save
Read full article: Experiencing rideshare surge pricing? Here’s some alternatives for those who want to saveRidesharing has become a monetary convenience and major part for travelers since the launch of Uber and Lyft.
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.
‘I was choked’: Lyft driver recounts moment rider used seatbelt to strangle him on Northwest Freeway
Read full article: ‘I was choked’: Lyft driver recounts moment rider used seatbelt to strangle him on Northwest FreewayA Houston-area rideshare driver is lucky to be alive after being strangled by a rider with his seatbelt while driving on the freeway, before the rider damaged his car and attempted to break in to a nearby home.
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.
Glitch prevents Lyft drivers from accessing their earnings
Read full article: Glitch prevents Lyft drivers from accessing their earningsLyft drivers in the Houston area and across the country are expressing their frustrations with the rideshare company after they were unable to withdraw the money they’ve earned on rideshare trips due to a glitch.
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.
Suspect tries to catch Lyft from Cedar Park to Houston after following man from bank, stealing his money
Read full article: Suspect tries to catch Lyft from Cedar Park to Houston after following man from bank, stealing his moneyTwo suspects are now behind bars after police say they followed a man from the bank, broke into his vehicle and stole his money.
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.
Lyft passengers says uninsured driver’s vehicle lost a tire while traveling
Read full article: Lyft passengers says uninsured driver’s vehicle lost a tire while travelingOne Houston area Lyft passenger and his family were shocked when they say their driver’s car wheel came flying off the car during a ride home.
Officer who ran red light hit by Lyft driver while responding to disturbance: HPD
Read full article: Officer who ran red light hit by Lyft driver while responding to disturbance: HPDAn investigation is underway after an officer with the Houston Police Department was involved in a crash with a Lyft driver while responding to a disturbance near the Rice Military area Tuesday, authorities said.
Businesses that help employees get abortions could be next target of Texas lawmakers if Roe v. Wade is overturned
Read full article: Businesses that help employees get abortions could be next target of Texas lawmakers if Roe v. Wade is overturnedFourteen GOP legislators warned Lyft that they’d seek to ban companies that pay for abortions from doing business in Texas. The extent of support for the idea is unclear.
KPRC 2 Investigates: Rideshare passengers stuck with fake fines after ‘vomit scam’ strikes again
Read full article: KPRC 2 Investigates: Rideshare passengers stuck with fake fines after ‘vomit scam’ strikes againA gross trick used to steal from people who need a ride. Rideshare passengers stuck with fake fines. Investigator Amy Davis has the ripoff warning and what you need to know about your next ride.
Uber driver shot by passenger during possible attempted robbery, HCSO says
Read full article: Uber driver shot by passenger during possible attempted robbery, HCSO saysAn Uber driver was shot by a passenger during a possible attempted robbery Monday evening, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
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. Michael Wolfe, a Uber driver who also leads a Washington state group representing about 2,000 other drivers, praised both ride-hailing services for trying to weed out the abuses in the industry. AdIt 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 voteThe lawsuit filed Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2-021 in the California Supreme Court said Proposition 22 is unconstitutional because it limits the power of the Legislature to grant workers the right to organize and excludes drivers from being eligible for workers' compensation. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel, File)LOS ANGELES – The California Supreme Court rejected a lawsuit Wednesday that sought to overturn a ballot measure that kept app-based ride-hailing and delivery drivers independent contractors instead of employees eligible for benefits and job protections. The lawsuit had been filed directly with the high court claiming the measure was unconstitutional because it limits the power of the Legislature and excludes drivers from being eligible for workers’ compensation. Unions, who joined drivers in the lawsuit, spent about $20 million to challenge the proposition. AdWhen the lawsuit seeking speedy review was filed directly with the Supreme Court last month, Mary-Beth Moylan, associate dean of McGeorge Law School in Sacramento, said the first challenge would be getting the court to take the case.
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.
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.
Lyft to offer free rides to NRG to drop off mail-in ballots
Read full article: Lyft to offer free rides to NRG to drop off mail-in ballotsHOUSTON – Ridesharing service Lyft is teaming up with the ‘More Than A Vote' Coalition to offer free rides to NRG to drop off mail-in ballots in response to Gov. In a tweet posted Oct. 6, Lyft riders in Harris County can get a free ride to NRG Arena using promo code HOUVOTE on their Lyft app to drop off their ballot. “Harris County, we see you, we got you,” The coalition said in the tweet. In Harris County, home to 2.4 million voters, Texas shut down 11 of 12 ballot drop off locations. Get a free @Lyft (up to $15) in Harris County to drop off your ballot at NRG Arena using code HOUVOTE.
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 to 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. The landmark labor law known known as AB5 threatens to upend the app-based business model, which offers great flexibility to drivers who can work whenever they choose. Uber and Lyft have maintained that their drivers meet the criteria to be independent contractors, not employees.
How to stay safe when using ride-sharing services
Read full article: How to stay safe when using ride-sharing servicesHe shared safety strategies he said all riders should know before ever getting into the back of a rideshare vehicle. According to Dupree, sitting behind your driver will make it more difficult for them to grab you for an attack. “If you’re behind him, you have the time to get out of the vehicle,” said Dupree. Check the window to see if it can roll down, that way you can open the door from the outside. Is he having conversations on a cellphone, in a very low tone or low voice that sounds suspicious?
Thieves rob 23-year-old Lyft driver at knifepoint, drain his accounts then steals his mom’s vehicle, he says
Read full article: Thieves rob 23-year-old Lyft driver at knifepoint, drain his accounts then steals his mom’s vehicle, he saysA Lyft driver said he was robbed at knifepoint. “After that, they put a hoodie, my hoodie over me so I couldn’t see what they were doing or where they were going,” Bell said. “They took up my ID and said if I do anything stupid that they’re going to come to my apartment and they were going to do something,” he said. Lyft released a written statement:The safety of our community is fundamental to Lyft, and the incident described is deeply troubling. We have reached out to the driver to offer our support and stand ready to assist law enforcement with any investigation.