đź“° Uber Is Now Accepting Cash for Trips

March 16, 2025

Uber is now accepting cash for trips from verified riders. Former Uber CEO thinks the company screwed up by getting rid of its own autonomy projects. Postmates and Uber Eats can go to arbitration, while GrubHub must go to court. Judge rules consolidated court cases can be presented in San Francisco, despite Uber’s effort to block. Robotaxi trips surge. We break it all down for you.

Uber Is Now Accepting Cash for Trips from Verified Riders

Image source: The Rideshare Guy on YouTube

Uber is introducing cash trips as a new payment option in select cities, which is growing the ire of drivers who are concerned collecting cash may present a safety risk. Only verified riders who have passed identity checks can use cash as a payment method, with cash trips only available between 6 am and 10 pm local time.

  • Uber says drivers can opt out of accepting cash trips if they prefer. Some drivers have concerns about safety risks, in a time where rideshare crime has heightened, and potential payment disputes with cash transactions.

  • If a rider underpays, Uber will cover the difference to ensure drivers receive their full fare. Uber encourages drivers to not argue about payment with passengers.

  • Drivers will collect payment directly from riders and enter the amount in the app. Earnings summaries will reflect cash payments differently than digital transactions.

Travis Kalanick Thinks Uber Screwed Up By Getting Rid of Robotaxi Program

Image source: Uber newsroom

Source –  TechCrunch

Travis Kalanick, Uber’s former CEO, expressed regret over the company’s decision to abandon its autonomous driving program. Speaking at the Abundance Summit in LA, Kalanick suggested that Uber was close to catching up with Waymo’s technology before the project was discontinued.

  • Kalanick believes Uber made a mistake by selling its self-driving unit to Aurora in 2020. At the time of the sale, Uber had already invested hundreds of millions in autonomous driving technology.

  • Uber has partnered with Waymo in Austin, but this arrangement could potentially leave Uber vulnerable if Waymo decides to operate independently.

  • Waymo is now operating robotaxis through its own app in multiple markets, including the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and Phoenix.

Postmates and Uber Eats Can Go To Arbitration, GrubHub Ordered to Federal Court

Image source: Sora Shimazaki/Pexels

SOURCE – Courthouse News

The Second Circuit Court has ruled that Grubhub must face antitrust claims in federal court, while Postmates and Uber Eats can move to arbitration. This decision stems from a 2020 class action lawsuit alleging that these food delivery platforms artificially inflated prices by restricting restaurants from offering lower prices for direct orders.

  • The court ruled that Postmates and Uber Eats can proceed with arbitration due to their user agreements, highlighting the importance of how arbitration agreements are presented to consumers in online interfaces.

  • The court rejected Grubhub’s argument that diners’ antitrust claims fall under their arbitration agreement, ruling that these claims are unrelated to customers’ use of the app and must be heard in federal court.

  • The lawsuit claims the delivery apps’ practices violate antitrust laws.

Court Rules Uber Can Face Consolidated Sexual Assault Cases in San Francisco

Image source: Norma Mortenson/Pexels

SOURCE – Los Angeles Times

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that more than 1,600 sexual assault cases against Uber can be consolidated and heard before a single judge in San Francisco, despite Uber’s attempts to block this based on its user agreement.

  • The court rejected Uber’s argument that its user agreement prevented the consolidation of cases, setting a precedent limiting how apps can use terms of service to protect against lawsuits.

  • The decision allows for easier and more cost-effective litigation for plaintiffs, potentially leading to significant changes in Uber’s safety practices and policies.

Robotaxi Surge: 1.3M Monthly Rides Signal Major Shift

Image source: Waymo newsroom

SOURCE – Forbes

Robotaxis, primarily operated by Waymo, are now providing approximately 1.3 million rides per month without safety drivers across various cities. This development signals a significant advancement in autonomous vehicle technology, its real-world applications, and its threat to the rideshare industry and drivers.

  • While Waymo is providing 200,000 self-driving taxi rides weekly in the U.S., in China, companies like Baidu Apollo and Pony.AI are also offering autonomous rides.

  • The potential market for autonomous transportation is estimated at $5 trillion worldwide.

  • This technology aims to replace not just drivers, but also impact various related industries including automotive, insurance, and logistics.

Uber Launches Driverless Waymo Rides in Austin

Uber Waymo Austin

SOURCE – YouTube Shorts

Uber has teamed up with robotaxi company Waymo to deploy robotaxis in Austin, Texas. Austin marks Uber’s first market managing Waymo’s fleet, with plans to extend their collaboration to Atlanta later this year. When Uber customers request an UberX, Uber Comfort, Uber Green, or Uber Comfort Electric, they will have the option to be paired with Waymo vehicles, if they are available, which may affect driver earnings. Watch the YouTube Short to find out more!

QUICK HITS

  • Lyft is set to introduce a new service called “Lyft Silver” later this year, tailored specifically for elderly riders with a simplified interface and enhanced support features. – Fox Business

  • Labor unions rallied outside Uber’s Chicago office, pushing for new driver protection laws, shortly after Uber signed a non-interference agreement with another union. – Crain’s Chicago Business

  • Uber is ending its $950M bid for Taiwanese food delivery service Foodpanda. Taiwan blocked the deal in December because of anti-competitive concerns. – Reuters

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