Episodios

  • Male Discrimination, Waymo on Highways and "Send A Ride".

    Male Discrimination, Waymo on Highways and "Send A Ride".
    Nov 14 2025
    Male drivers sue, Waymo hits the highways and Uber sends rides. LegalRideshare breaks it down. MALE DRIVERS SUE UBER/LYFT FOR DISCRIMINATION Male drivers are suing Uber & Lyft over discrimination. Time reported: Male drivers for Uber and Lyft are suing the companies over a feature that lets users hail only women drivers. The dual class action suits allege that the functions — which followed thousands of sexual harassment and assault lawsuits against Uber and Lyft over the years — have limited the economic opportunities for men and discriminated against them because of their gender. Lawyers acting for the plaintiffs argue that male drivers “are discriminated against and receive fewer and different rides than they otherwise would absent the policy.” They contend that the policy “reinforces the gender stereotype that men are more dangerous than women.” California has some of the nation's strongest anti-discrimination laws. The lawsuit accuses both Uber and Lyft of violating the Unruh Act, a California civil rights law that “expressly prohibits sex discrimination by business enterprises.” They are seeking $4,000 in damages per male driver in California for violating state law. WAYMO ON HIGHWAYS Waymo hits the highways. Bloomberg reported: Waymo will become the first robotaxi provider in the US to offer driverless rides on highways, a milestone that positions it to better compete with ride-hailing companies and traditional taxi services. Beginning Wednesday, the Alphabet Inc. unit will begin offering some riders routes that include freeways in San Francisco, Phoenix and Los Angeles, it said in a statement. Freeway service will be available 24 hours a day. Users who have opted in to Waymo's new services and features will be the first to be able to try this kind of trip. Waymo's US rivals are also testing highway driving and in some cases charging customers, but until now the presence of a human in the car was a given. Tesla Inc. recently launched its self-driving cab services in Austin, where it offers some highway rides, with a safety monitor in the driver seat for those kinds of routes. (It also has human monitors present for non-highway rides, but they sit in the passenger seat in those cases.) Separately, the Elon Musk-led company is testing a purpose-built self-driving “Cybercab,” which Musk said will go into production in April. UBER MAKES IT EASIER TO SEND A RIDE Uber is adding new features. The Verge reported: The new “Send a Ride” feature allows you to pay for someone else's Uber ride directly from the app. You set the number of rides and spending limit, then send a link to whoever you want to gift the rides to. Additionally, John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and Orlando International Airport are now available for Uber Share, which discounts your Uber fare when you share your ride with someone heading in the same direction. The update arrives as airports are still experiencing disruptions that could carry on for a while, even now that the government shutdown has ended. Another new feature, Uber Ski, makes it easier to reserve an UberXL or UberXXL directly to nearly 40 top ski locations around North America and Europe, and allows you to purchase “Epic” ski and snowboard passes at the same time. Lastly, Uber Eats is getting a Cameo-like feature for the holiday season that will let you add a celebrity video message to gifted Uber Eats orders, including the likes of Megan Thee Stallion, the Jonas Brothers, Jake Shane, and Tracee Ellis Ross. LegalRideshare is the first law firm in the United States to focus exclusively on Uber®, Lyft®, robotaxis, Waymo, and gig worker accidents and injuries. Consultations are always free.
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    19 m
  • Robotaxis, Robotaxis, and Robotaxis

    Robotaxis, Robotaxis, and Robotaxis
    Nov 7 2025
    Boston clamps down on robotaxis, Uber takes on Waymo and gig workers get a new gig. LegalRideshare breaks it down. BOSTON VS. DRIVERLESS TAXIS Boston is putting the breaks on driverless taxis. Bloomberg reported: Boston city councilors are proposing an ordinance that would require Alphabet Inc.'s Waymo and other autonomous ride-share services to have a human operator present in the vehicle. The legislation would mandate a study on the technology's effects on the employment of current ride-share drivers and prohibit self-driving cars from operating in Boston until that's been completed and other permitting requirements are established. Even then, the cars wouldn't be allowed to operate unless a human safety operator is inside the vehicle and able to intervene, according to the proposed ordinance. The restrictions are up for possible action at a meeting on Wednesday, though councilors said there are likely to be more hearings on the legislation before it comes to a full vote. Typically, proposals from city councilors that advance must pass through committee and then receive public hearings before the mayor signs off. The exact language of Boston's restrictions on autonomous vehicles could change substantially before anything becomes law. Boston has been something of a hotbed for autonomous vehicle development. Hyundai Motor Co.-backed Motional is headquartered in the city and has been testing on public roads there since 2016. Boston is also among the cities where Waymo, which is widely considered to be the leader in the space, has been doing mapping and testing work as the company looks to expand service to new US cities. Ethan Teicher, a spokesperson for Waymo, said in a post on X that the proposal would make Boston the “first major city in the world to ban fully autonomous vehicles based entirely on vibes,” adding that the company's vehicles improve safety. A local Teamsters chapter and other labor unions have protested the rollout of autonomous ride-share services in Massachusetts. UBER VS WAYMO IN SF Uber is taking on Waymo in San Fran. Bloomberg reported: Uber Technologies Inc. is preparing to offer driverless rides on vehicles developed by Lucid Group Inc. and Nuro Inc. in the San Francisco Bay Area for the first time next year, thrusting the company into direct competition with Waymo's robotaxi service. Road testing of the vehicles — Lucid Gravity SUVs outfitted with Nuro's self-driving technology — is currently underway with drivers manually operating them, a Nuro spokesperson said. The first cars in the test fleet were delivered in September, and the number will grow to more than a hundred in the coming months, according to an Uber statement. The move is a step toward Uber challenging Alphabet Inc.'s Waymo, whose driverless taxis have become ubiquitous in San Francisco. The two companies currently work together to provide Waymo rides on the Uber app in Austin, Atlanta and Phoenix, but Waymo offers its own service in major urban markets like San Francisco and Los Angeles. Next year, Waymo will expand its service to Miami, London and Washington. Uber, meanwhile, has struck more than a dozen deals with robotaxi developers in the past year — a bet on a future where autonomous vehicles and human drivers complement each other on its platform. That push has included investing hundreds of millions of dollars in both Lucid and Nuro. NEW GIGS FOR GIG WORKERS\ Robotaxis could offer new gigs for gig workers. Business Insider reported: As self-driving cars become cheaper and more common, though, there could be a new opportunity for drivers in the world of robotaxis, said Jeremy Bird, Lyft's executive vice president of driver experience. “The hybrid world of that future might be that the driver is the owner of the vehicle that they are able to put on the platform,” Bird told Business Insider. Robotaxis could create other jobs as well, such as at the depots that maintain the vehicles, Bird said. The cars would need to be charged and serviced around the clock. Walter Strobel, who drives for Lyft in the Bay Area and previously ran his own delivery business, said that he would consider taking out a loan to buy vehicles that he could make available to Lyft for rides. LegalRideshare is the first law firm in the United States to focus exclusively on Uber®, Lyft®, robotaxis, Waymo, and gig worker accidents and injuries. Consultations are always free.
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    15 m
  • Taxi Shutdown, Lyft Rewards and $4000

    Taxi Shutdown, Lyft Rewards and $4000
    Oct 24 2025

    Taxi drivers protest, Lyft tests loyalty and Uber pays $4000 to drivers. LegalRideshare breaks it down.

    TAXI DRIVERS “TOTAL SHUTDOWN”

    Taxis are preparing a total shutdown. Catalan News reported:

    Barcelona's taxi drivers are planning a “total shutdown” of the city on Tuesday night in protest against FC Barcelona's new partnership with Uber. Élite Taxi has condemned the club's sponsorship deal, which makes Uber an official partner of FC Barcelona. They call it an agreement with “criminals” who have built their business on “deregulation, labor exploitation, and tax evasion.” The union warned that further protests will follow future matches if the partnership is not canceled. LYFT LOYALTY REWARDS

    Lyft tests new loyalty rewards. Bloomberg reported:

    Lyft Inc. is piloting a program that offers some customers cash back on future rides, the latest effort to win over users from rival Uber Technologies Inc. The new program will let users earn as much as 5% cash back on rides if they opt to auto-reload their account with cash. Setting the auto-refill amount to $100 comes with other benefits like relaxed cancellation fees and free ride upgrades each month. The company is opening early access to the feature for riders in the Bay Area, as well as customers who have been using Lyft for at least 10 years. A company spokesperson said the program may roll out more broadly next year depending on feedback during this testing period. Launching a cash-back program is another way Lyft is trying to deepen loyalty from users who might have otherwise chosen Uber, which owns more than 70% of the US rideshare market. Uber has a similar feature called Uber Cash that allows users to pre-load funds for rides or to access ride credits from credit card promotions, but it does not have a rewards structure. UBER PAYS $4000 FOR DRIVERS TO GO EV

    Uber is paying drivers $4000 to go EV. The Verge reported:

    As it rushes to meet its pledge for “100 percent” of trips in electric vehicles by 2030, Uber is offering grants of $4,000 for drivers to swap their gas-guzzlers for zero-tailpipe emission vehicles. The company is also dropping its “Uber Green” branding in favor of the more simple “Uber Electric.” Uber has said it will be completely carbon neutral in North America and Europe by 2030 and in all global markets by 2040. But when it first announced this pledge in 2020, it said it wouldn't directly pay drivers to ditch their gas-burning vehicles in favor of EVs. Now, the company is reversing that decision in the hopes that direct payments can help accelerate EV adoption. Not every driver will be eligible for the grants, at least not initially. As part of Uber's new “Go Electric” program, drivers in New York City, California, Colorado, and Massachusetts can apply for $4,000 when they switch to a new or used EV. When combined with local incentives, like Massachusetts' MOR-EV and Colorado's Clean Fleet Program, EV prices can drop even further.

    LegalRideshare is the first law firm in the United States to focus exclusively on Uber®, Lyft®, robotaxis, Waymo, and gig worker accidents and injuries. Consultations are always free.
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    19 m
  • Regulation, Waymo and Uber Tasks

    Regulation, Waymo and Uber Tasks
    Oct 17 2025
    Hong Kong regulates Uber, the future is Waymo and drivers earn extra cash. LegalRideshare breaks it down. HONG KONG REGULATES UBER After a decade, Hong Kong has finally regulated Uber. Bloomberg reported: Under new rules to take in effect next year, ride-hailing platforms, vehicles and drivers will need to obtain relevant licences and permits, according to a government statement. The regulation also strengthens penalties for the illegal carriage of paying passengers. The bill “will address the long-standing controversies surrounding such services and provide the public with more travel options that are safer and lawful,” Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said in a statement. Under the new rules, drivers will need to be at least 21 years old and have no serious traffic convictions within the past five years. Uber said it welcomed the government's move to formally regulate ride-sharing in Hong Kong. The bill will help integrate ride-sharing into the city's transport system and ensure riders and drivers alike benefit from clear rules, an Uber spokesperson said in an emailed statement. IS WAYMO THE FUTURE? Is Waymo the future? One reporter thinks so. Bloomberg reported: I've covered the car industry for 20 years, and I would hate to see our sports coupes and road trips disappear. The risks associated with relinquishing control over my mobility also give me pause. Or they did. I took a Waymo for the first time recently in Los Angeles and … I haven't stopped using it since. Rather than replace our cool cars, self-driving vehicles will, I predict, become a welcome complement to modern life, first as part of ride-sharing platforms and then as privately owned transport. Why? Because they offer an excellent solution for something nobody likes: commuting. If driving is heaven, commuting is hell. Not even the hardest-core drivers like it. So the question isn't whether self-driving will replace our favorite cars (I think not), but rather, will it remove the burden of our most mundane trips? And could it replace other ride-sharing platforms like Uber? I certainly hope so. Beyond Waymo, robo-taxis and -shuttles are also running in China, Singapore and the Middle East, and they're being tested across Europe. The vehicles are expected to become commercially available in the US at a large scale by 2030, according to the research firm McKinsey. But they're a long way from being ubiquitous. A world of self-driving cars will require billions of dollars of development, improved navigation systems, increased charging infrastructures and new regulations to amend traffic laws. Ford, General Motors and Volkswagen have all canceled autonomous taxi programs they once funded by the billions. (GM is planning to renew exploring autonomous cars for personal use, rather than as a robotaxi service.) Tesla's Robotaxis aren't open to the public. Given the company's proclivity for extensive delays, it's unclear when they will be. UBER OFFERS NEW WAYS TO MAKE MONEY Uber is offering new ways for drivers to make money. Bloomberg reported: A new job category called “digital tasks” will appear in the Uber driver app for some workers later this fall, offering existing registered drivers the opportunity to make a few bucks if they take on simple assignments that can be completed within minutes, according to the company. Those stints currently include uploading documents like restaurant menus, or recording audio samples of themselves narrating a scenario in various languages, said Chief Product Officer Sachin Kansal. More tasks will be added over time, he said, and the payout will vary based on the time commitment of each assignment. Uber is seeking to ride the wave of a growing appetite for bespoke datasets and labeling services that require human vetting to train AI models. Scale AI, which offers similar services, received more than $14 billion in investment from Meta Platforms Inc. earlier this year and is valued at more than $29 billion. Kansal said in an interview that the new digital tasks aren't meant as an answer to potential driver displacement from the increasing availability of autonomous vehicles, but as a way to keep attracting drivers to the app with more ways to earn. LegalRideshare is the first law firm in the United States to focus exclusively on Uber®, Lyft®, robotaxis, Waymo, and gig worker accidents and injuries. Consultations are always free.
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    21 m
  • CA Uber Unions, Waymo Lobbyists and Lyft Kills Tips.

    CA Uber Unions, Waymo Lobbyists and Lyft Kills Tips.
    Oct 10 2025

    Drivers get the greenlight to unionize, Waymo hires lobbyists and Lyft kills tips. LegalRideshare breaks it down.

    NEWSOM SIGNS BILL — CA DRIVERS CAN UNIONIZE

    Drivers in CA can soon unionize. TechCrunch reported:

    Drivers for ride-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft will soon have the right to unionize in California as independent contractors, thanks to a bill signed Friday by Governor Gavin Newsom.

    This is part of a larger deal between lawmakers, unions, and ride-hailing companies, resulting in the passage of separate bills supporting lower insurance requirements for Uber and Lyft, along with union rights for their drivers. When the deal was first announced in August, Newsom described it as a “historic agreement between workers and business that only California could deliver.”

    The Associated Press reports that more than 800,000 drivers will gain the right to join a union and collectively bargain for better pay and benefits. Ramona Prieto, Uber's head of public policy for California, told the AP in a statement that the two bills “represent a compromise that lowers costs for riders while creating stronger voices for drivers.”

    WAYMO HIRES LOBBYISTS

    Waymo hires lobbyists. Axios reported:

    Waymo recently hired four lobbyists from a local firm, state disclosures show, signaling that it's gearing up to push for a green light to test — and eventually launch — its autonomous vehicles in Minnesota.

    Teicher didn't respond to Axios' question about Waymo's specific policy goals, but said the company is “engaging with regulators and lawmakers across the globe” to explain its technology in hopes of expanding to more markets.

    DFL Rep. Erin Koegel, co-chair of the House transportation committee, said she was “more skeptical and a little bit more apprehensive” about autonomous vehicles in previous sessions.

    LYFT KILLS TIP FEATURE

    Lyft kills the tips feature. News Nation reported:

    Lyft has scrapped a test feature that let some drivers see how often passengers tip before accepting a ride.

    “While this experiment showed early signs of improving the marketplace and helping riders to get to where they need to go on time, we heard our customers and cancelled the experiment,” a Lyft spokesperson told NewsNation in an email Thursday.

    The decision comes after screenshots of the feature drew criticism on social media, with some vowing to stop using the popular rideshare service.

    LegalRideshare is the first law firm in the United States to focus exclusively on Uber®, Lyft®, robotaxis, Waymo, and gig worker accidents and injuries. Consultations are always free.
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    17 m
  • Robotaxis: Injuries, Regulations and Concerns.

    Robotaxis: Injuries, Regulations and Concerns.
    Oct 3 2025

    Attorney Bryant Greening lays out his concerns over Robotaxi safety and lack of regulations.

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    28 m
  • Tesla FSD, Women-Only Uber, and Waymo For Business

    Tesla FSD, Women-Only Uber, and Waymo For Business
    Sep 27 2025
    Tesla's FSD is a mess, thoughts on Uber's pilot program and Waymo goes B2B. LegalRideshare breaks it down. TESLA'S FSD TROUBLES Press enter or click to view image in full size People are calling Tesla's FSD a “mess”. Forbes reported: During a 90-minute test drive in Los Angeles, in residential neighborhoods and freeways, the 2024 Model Y with Tesla's latest hardware and software (Hardware 4, FSD version 13.2.9) ignored some standard traffic signs and posted speed limits; didn't slow at a pedestrian crossing with a flashing sign and people present; made pointless lane changes and accelerated at odd times, such as while exiting a crowded freeway with a red light at the end of the ramp. There's also no indication the company has fixed a worrisome glitch identified two years ago: stopping for a flashing school bus sign indicating that children may be about to cross a street. In fact, there are so many easy-to-find problems with the feature, recently redubbed “Full-Self Driving (Supervised),” it raises a question: Why is the $8,000 feature, or a $99 a month subscription, even legal in its current form? Turns out, there's a simple answer: “Driving-assist systems are unregulated, so there are no concerns about legality,” said Missy Cummings, a George Mason University professor and AI expert who has advised the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on autonomous vehicles. “NHTSA has the authority to step in, but up to now they've only stepped in for poor driver monitoring.” NHTSA, which opened an investigation last month into Tesla's failure to report FSD and Autopilot accidents in a timely manner, said it “does not pre-approve new technologies or vehicle systems.” Instead, it's up to carmakers to certify that vehicles and technologies meet federal safety standards. If an investigation finds a system to be unsafe, “NHTSA will take any necessary actions to protect road safety,” a spokesperson said. UBER'S WOMEN-ONLY SERVICE Uber has rolled out its women-only service. But is it working? Knowledge at Wharton explains: Uber announced the program, called Women Preferences, in July and has since rolled it out in Los Angeles, Detroit, and San Francisco. The company said the initiative is in response to feedback from women saying they want the option to be matched to other women. Allegations of sexual assault have plagued the ride-hail industry almost since its inception. While a vast majority of Uber's trips are without incident, court records revealed that more than 400,000 Uber trips between 2017 and 2022 resulted in reports of sexual assault or sexual misconduct, according to The New York Times. But Cameron said for the program to succeed in the United States, Uber has to get enough women drivers on the road to meet the demand without significantly increasing wait times. That's a challenge because the company has said most of its drivers are men. Lyft, the second-largest ride-hail operator in the U.S., already has a gender-based program called Women+ Connect that launched in 2023. It allows women and nonbinary drivers to match with women and nonbinary passengers. It said wait times were the same, although it did not provide details. In an August 2024 press release, Lyft said there were early indications that the program was incentivizing more female drivers to get behind the wheel. When the program started, women and nonbinary drivers were getting matched with women and nonbinary riders 50% of the time. In a year, that number had increased to 66%. WAYMO ENTERPRISE SERVICE Waymo goes B2B. Bloomberg reported: Dubbed “Waymo for Business,” the new enterprise offering targets employers, universities and event organizers that have subsidized transportation programs in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix, where Waymo currently offers paid trips on its own app. The interface allows corporations to manage discount codes, track rides and plan budgets, the company said in a statement on Wednesday. The Alphabet Inc.-owned self-driving car unit is inviting organizations to register for the tool — at no extra cost — after piloting it with several firms. One of those named in the statement is the used-car platform Carvana Co., which has provided Waymo rides for employees and guests at its events. Commuters are a key demographic for ride-hailing services. Waymo said one in six of its users in those three markets rely on it for traveling to work or school. For Uber Technologies Inc., commutes comprised nearly 30% of its rideshare and delivery bookings in 2024. Those trips similarly made up more than a third of Lyft Inc.'s total rides in the first quarter. LegalRideshare is the first law firm in the United States to focus exclusively on Uber®, Lyft®, robotaxis, Waymo, and gig worker accidents and injuries. Consultations are always free.
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    19 m
  • Waymo Tourists, Riders Tip, and SFO

    Waymo Tourists, Riders Tip, and SFO
    Sep 18 2025

    Tourists pay for the AV experience, Waymo lands at SFO and Lyft testing tipping riders. LegalRideshare breaks it down.

    TOURISTS PAY HUNRDREDS FOR WAYMO

    Tourists are using Waymo as it's own adventure. SF Chronicle reported:

    From February to August, Mihaly booked 10 Waymo tours in which clients would ride the autonomous vehicles to such prominent landmarks as Alamo Square, Twin Peaks and the Golden Gate Bridge.

    At $149 for a three-hour, three-ride “experience,” these jaunts became so popular that Mihaly began offering them in Los Angeles, Waymo's other flagship market in California. She had four Waymo tours on the calendar as of Aug. 18, the day the self-driving car juggernaut sent a cease-and-desist letter. Mihaly had, it turned out, violated the company's terms and conditions for brand display.

    Clearly, Waymo's bedrock consumers are the regular commuters who might otherwise hail rides with Uber or Lyft. But some experts say the company would be wise to divert some of its focus to tourists, who might pay more money for the thrill of an autonomous ride.

    WAYMO AT SFO Press enter or click to view image in full size

    Waymo lands at SFO. SF.gov explains:

    Mayor Daniel Lurie today announced that the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has signed a Testing and Operations Pilot Permit for autonomous vehicles with Waymo, allowing the company to begin operating at the airport. Operations will be rolled out in three phases, including testing the vehicles with a human driver, testing the vehicles without a human driver with Waymo and airport employees, and eventually beginning commercial operations.

    The permit allows Waymo to access portions of the airport to test and pilot autonomous vehicle operations on designated roads and property and will be rolled out in three phases. Phases include:

    Phase 1: Testing autonomous vehicles in autonomous mode with a trained specialist behind the wheel

    Phase 2: Testing passenger service in fully autonomous mode with Waymo employees and designated airport staff as passengers

    Phase 3: Piloting commercial operations of paid-for-hire autonomous services for Waymo customers

    The pilot permit follows a comprehensive review process, including safety protocols and data reporting requirements. Under the terms of the agreement, Waymo will operate within strict safety and reporting conditions to ensure dependable service for trips to and from SFO.

    LYFT TO TELL DRIVERS IF RIDER TIPS Press enter or click to view image in full size

    Lyft is letting drivers know if their rider tips. Bloomberg reported:

    Lyft Inc. is testing a feature that will tell drivers how often a rider tips and how punctual they are, providing additional information drivers can use when deciding which trips are worth their time.

    Lyft drivers typically decide whether to accept a passenger based on information such as what the trip pays, the time and distance to the pick-up and drop-off points, and the rider's rating.

    The company is now also showing “rider tipped on X% of rides” and “rider is usually ready at pickup,” according to a screenshot shared by a Boston-based driver on X. Lyft is testing the feature with a “limited number” of drivers, a spokesperson said in response to a Bloomberg News inquiry, and said the company will gather data and community feedback before deciding on a broader roll-out.

    LegalRideshare is the first law firm in the United States to focus exclusively on Uber®, Lyft®, robotaxis, Waymo, and gig worker accidents and injuries. Consultations are always free.
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    17 m
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