CHICAGO, December 30, 2018 (Newswire.com) - 2018 was full of more rideshare stories and surprises than anyone could have imagined. From the turmoil at Uber to the explosion of scooters, new challengers and new challenges, nothing was left out of focus. Let’s break it down.
JANUARY
Goodbye Travis.
Travis Kalanick, who was ousted as chief executive in June of 2017, sells about 1/3 of his 10 percent steak in Uber… which is worth $1.4 Billion. What a way to start the year.
FEBRUARY
LimeBike jumps into the scooter biz, launching Lime-S. The scooter wars begin. “The scooters cost $1 to unlock and $0.10 for every 10 minutes of riding. On a single charge, Lime-S can go up to 14.8mph with a maximum range of 37 miles.”
MARCH
Uber officially announces that it’s shutting down UberRUSH, the same-day delivery service. Fortune covered the story.
Oh yeah, Bird raises $100 million dollars. “It feels like investing in Uber when it first launched,” one investor was reported saying.
APRIL
The new Uber CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi announces in a blog post that Uber will run background checks on drivers each year. Before this announcement, Uber didn’t have a uniformed policy on rerunning criminal background checks.
Uber and Lyft rides teeter on becoming more expensive in Seattle. The city considers setting a minimum fare per ride and other regulations in an effort to ensure drivers are compensated fairly.
MAY
A former engineer at Uber sues the company, claiming that co-workers sexually harassed her during her time at the ride-hailing service and that its human resources department failed to act on her complaints.
JUNE
Uber launches its own magazine called “Vehicle,” it was reported to be a mix of journalism, poetry, and more branded content
JULY
The Washington D.C. City Council increases the tax for Uber and Lyft riders by 500% in the 2019 budget to make up for many riders no longer using the unpopular Metro system, as reported by The Daily Wire.
AUGUST
A new Illinois rideshare law requires more extensive background checks including social security numbers and date of birth. NBC5 interviews LegalRideshare’s Bryant Greening. Watch video.
SEPTEMBER
The electric scooter injury boom as reported by Chicago Tribune. When doctors began asking patients to explain their injuries, many were surprised to learn that the surge of broken body parts stemmed from the latest urban transportation trend: shared electric scooters.
OCTOBER
NBC5 Investigates speaks with LegalRideshare’s Bryant Greening about loopholes in the insurance Uber and Lyft provide to their drivers. Watch video.
Dara Khosrowshahi (CEO of Uber) indicates that the company is working to close the gap between its treatment of full-time employees and drivers—including by offering the latter access to similar perks and protections. Reported by Fortune.
NOVEMBER
People who charge Lime and Bird scooters, “Juicers” become a craze in themselves. St. Louis Post-Dispatch covers the life of a charger and the “cutthroat gig” flooding St. Louis. Other cities have similar stories.
DECEMBER
After a year of drivers fighting for better wages and better treatment, A new policy in New York City puts everything in motion. The goal is to give drivers higher and consistent pay. This could turn into a ripple effect across the country in 2019. What a year!
LegalRideshare, LLC is the first law firm in the United States to focus exclusively on Uber®, Lyft®, Divvy® and taxicab accidents and injuries. We dedicate 100% of our resources to protecting injured drivers, passengers, and victims.
Source: LegalRideshare
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