New York City has recently set limits on the number of Uber and Lyft vehicles in the city, freezing new vehicle licenses until August 2019, but the biggest question is: will California follow suit?
New York City has passed regulations on Uber and Lyft, limiting the number of rideshare vehicles on the road and requiring the rideshare companies that their drivers be paid a minimum wage. The move is the city’s latest attempt to reduce traffic congestion.
The new limits are expected to be signed by New York City mayor Bill de Blasio later this month. De Blasio was the driving force behind the latest package of bills that will regulate ride-sharing giants such as Uber and Lyft. By signing the bills into law, New York will become the first U.S. city to cap the number of rideshare vehicles on the road.
But will California pass similar regulations as one of its own measures to reduce traffic congestion? After all, traffic congestion in Los Angeles and other California cities is sometimes even worse than congestion in New York City. We invited our Los Angeles Uber accident attorney from the Law Offices of Howard Kornberg to discuss the new regulations and to outline the potential implications of that decision.
Uber and Lyft opposed the cap; rides could get more expensive
As you may have guessed, ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft are not exactly thrilled about the new measures, nor are the existing Uber/Lyft drivers and drivers who planned to work for one of the ridesharing giants in the nearest future.
Both Uber and Lyft launched large-scale campaigns urging their drivers and customers to oppose the regulations by contacting local council members to express their opposition to the proposed bills. Taxi drivers and others who think capping the growth of Uber and Lyft is a rational idea campaigned in favor of the bills.
And while it does make sense why the new measures could reduce traffic congestion in New York City, and therefore decrease the occurrence of Uber and Lyft accidents on the roads, it is important to understand that the new regulations could make rides more expensive.
Both Lyft and Uber have already warned their customers that the regulations would result in reduced service in the outer boroughs. In addition to that, the ride-hailing giants warned that the cap would lead to higher fares during rush hours when NYC’s subway and buses are struggling to transport the enormous number of commuters.
Longer wait times when requesting an Uber ride
Our experienced Uber accident attorney in Los Angeles, who has been closely following the developments in NYC’s efforts to pass the proposed legislation, warns that the limit would not apply to new wheelchair-accessible Uber and Lyft vehicles or new vehicles operating in the areas with a lack of transportation.
Fact: Statistics show that in New York City alone, rideshare services account for a whopping 80,000 vehicles, the vast majority of which are Uber and Lyft cars. These vehicles provide about 17 million rides every month in NYC.
“While the cap is expected to benefit the city and reduce traffic congestion during rush hours, the new regulations could also result in longer wait times when requesting a ride and finding a driver, as well as higher prices for Uber and Lyft services,” warns our Los Angeles Uber accident attorney at the Law Offices of Howard Kornberg.
It is unclear whether or not Los Angeles or California as a whole could pass similar limits on the number of Uber and Lyft vehicles. After all, the popularity of ridesharing companies continues to expand in the state by the year, while Los Angeles continues to struggle with traffic congestion. But before California introduces its own measures to reduce traffic congestion during rush hours, read our 6 important safety tips for the early-morning commute.
Have you been in an Uber or Lyft accident in Los Angeles or elsewhere in California? Get a free consultation with our experienced and knowledgeable lawyers at the Law Offices of Howard Kornberg. Call 310-997-0904 or provide your information on this contact form.
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