📰 NYT Profiles Uber Drivers' Airport Trip Struggles

Uber unveils new budget-friendly features to boost user engagement. Lyft partners with Solana-based Bee Maps for enhanced real-time mapping. Colorado rideshare safety bill sparks debate between companies and survivors. Uber introduces fixed-route shuttles in major US cities for commuters.

We break it all down for you. 

The New York Times Profiles Uber Driver Struggles at Getting Airport Trips

SOURCE – The New York Times

The Transportation Network Company Staging Area at Los Angeles International Airport, nicknamed the "pen" by drivers, has transformed from a prime earning spot to a symbol of rideshare’s recent challenges. As profiled in The New York Times, hundreds of Uber and Lyft drivers queue for hours, often seeing their earnings decline despite increased demand. 

• The new system, implemented in 2019 to reduce terminal traffic, has inadvertently created a difficult environment for drivers, with some waiting up to 90 minutes for their first ride of the day.

• Sergio Avedian, our very own senior contributor for The Rideshare Guy, was featured in the story, showing off his  "decline and recline" strategy, rejecting low-paying rides while waiting for better opportunities.

• Average hourly earnings for Uber drivers in Los Angeles have decreased by 21% since 2021, according to Gridwise data.

Uber Unveils New Features to Provide More Budget-Friendly Options for Rides and Deliveries

SOURCE – Business Insider

Uber introduced a range of new features aimed at providing more affordable options for rides and deliveries. The new offerings include a grocery savings tool and a shared ride option for commuters, both designed to help users save money while encouraging regular use of the app. This news comes as Uber reported slower demand, questioning whether rideshare and delivery apps are indeed recession proof. 

• CEO Dara Khosrowshahi emphasized the company wants to make its services more affordable, predictable, and easier for customers to use.

• The Uber Eats Savings Slider allows customers to choose how much they want to save on groceries, with potential savings of 15-20% on average.

Uber Launches "Route Share" for Affordable Fixed-Route Commutes in Major U.S. Cities

SOURCE – TechCrunch

Uber is introducing a new feature called "Route Share" in seven major U.S. cities, offering fixed-route rides along busy corridors during weekday commute hours at half the price of a standard UberX trip. This service, launching in Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, New York City, Philadelphia, and San Francisco, aims to provide a more affordable option for regular commuters while maintaining Uber's user base amidst economic pressures.

• Routes will operate every 20 minutes between pre-set stops, with up to two additional passengers per ride.

• Riders can book 7 days to 10 minutes in advance and will receive directions to pickup points.

• The company envisions integrating autonomous vehicles into this service, building on its partnerships with 18 AV companies.

Colorado Rideshare Safety Bill Sparks Debate Between Companies and Survivors

SOURCE – ABC 7 Denver

A proposed Colorado bill (HB25-1291) aimed at regulating rideshare companies has created tension between Uber and Lyft, who are pushing for a veto, and survivors of attacks by fake rideshare drivers, who are urging Governor Jared Polis to sign it into law. The bill includes provisions for regular background checks and bans drivers from distributing food or drink to passengers.

• Uber and Lyft claim the bill conflicts with federal law and could force them to cease operations in Colorado. They have lobbied Polis to veto the law, on the threat that they are leaving the state. 

• Survivors of attacks by a man impersonating a rideshare driver have also written to Governor Polis, emphasizing the need for improved safety measures.

• Governor Polis is reviewing the final version of the bill, considering concerns about privacy, legal conflicts, and implementation feasibility.

Lyft Taps Solana’s Hivemapper for Real-Time, Crowdsourced Mapping Upgrade

SOURCE – Coindesk

Lyft has partnered with Bee Maps, a project on the Solana-based Hivemapper network, to improve its mapping data accuracy. This collaboration highlights the growing importance of crowdsourced geospatial intelligence in the transportation industry and demonstrates rideshare companies' interest in decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN) for mapping solutions.

• Hivemapper uses AI-enabled dashcams to detect and update real-time changes on roads, keeping digital maps current and accurate.

• Contributors to Bee Maps earn crypto rewards for collecting street-level imagery using Hivemapper cameras. 

• The move underscores the potential of blockchain-incentivized crowdsourcing for developing real-world infrastructure.

Does It Even Make Sense to Pick Passengers Up At The Airport Anymore?

SOURCE – YouTube Shorts

In the past, some rideshare drivers strategized their days around starting at a major airport. These trips would usually net drivers good earnings. But things have changed. Airport trips are becoming less lucrative. Some drivers are waiting hours at the airport for trips and are seeing slashed earnings. It begs to question: Is it even worth driving at the airport anymore? Learn more from the YouTube Short!

QUICK HITS

• Grubhub is lobbying against pay ordinances in Seattle, which the company said has frustrated customers, led to fewer orders and struggling restaurants. – GrubHub 

• There are no active plans to expand Uber robotaxis to New York City. – AM New York

• Uber is partnering with Volkswagen to expand robotaxi service in Los Angeles by 2026. – Fox Business

• Want to learn more about the robotaxi industry? Subscribe to The Driverless Digest, our new newsletter and podcast dedicated to the future of autonomous vehicles. 

Must Listen Or Watch RSG Content

Here are this week's featured podcast episode and YouTube videos:

• RSG264: Should Rideshare Drivers be Worried About Autonomous Vehicles?

• Uber Says ‘No New Requests’ May Break the Rules — Here’s Why It Matters

• How This Uber Driver Earns $1K a Week Renting A Car

• Lyft CEO Wants to End Surge Pricing — But Drivers Say NO

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