Lyft, Uber and Dangerous ‘Regulation Hopping’
Whip out your smartphone and click open an app. Wow! I can have a ride from my apartment to a nearby restaurant for how much? Technology and new ideas make the American economy function. However, there are many cases where unsuspecting consumers are taken advantage of by those posing as entrepreneurs. Americans love innovators and want to find the best service at the lowest price. This is where the trap of ride-share services come in.
The Dark Side of Ride Sharing?
Companies like Lyft and Uber burst on the scene over the last several years. Their potential has been lauded in the press and millions of rides have been delivered. However, there has been tremendous concern about the so-called ‘dark side’ of ride sharing. Various issues have clouded how these services are used and abuse visited upon clients.
Take a case reported by People magazine about an Uber driver that drove an unsuspecting woman to the airport then doubled back and robbed her house. There was another case reported in San Francisco where a woman and her boyfriend were assaulted by a Lyft passenger. Forbes reported on an incident last year where an Uber rider was struck in the head by the car’s driver with a hammer.
These are just several incidents of many that have been reported using ride-share technology. Companies like Uber and Lyft operate in a grey zone of regulation, flouting many established tenets of taxi service and transportation. This regulation hopping has allowed the companies to not pay their employees in the same manner as a taxi company or offer them the same protections. In addition, there are not as many protections in place for riders and background information on drivers can be more easily faked or sidestepped.
The Regulation Loophole May Soon Be Closed?
This regulation loophole may well be closed over the coming several years. However, until the event happens, there will likely be dozens more reported assaults and robberies due to the irresponsible practice of these companies. For consumers looking for the best service, they instead are treated to poorer service with a sharply increased risk of danger. Don’t let claims of innovation overstep the actual function of service of Uber and Lyft.
