It looks like individuals from coast to coast are pushing back against Uber, Lyft and apps like them.
The University of California (UC) has barred its employees from using Uber, Lyft, Airbnb and other services like them on official business trips because the services are “not fully regulated and do not protect users to the same extent as a commercially regulated business,” according to a post on the UCLA Faculty Association blog.
“As the market matures and these businesses evolve, the University may reconsider whether reimbursement of travel costs provided by peer-to-peer or sharing businesses will be allowed,” writes the University’s Director of Travel Services Belinda Borden in the post. “Therefore, until further notice, please do not use services such as Uber, Lyft, Air B&B or any other similar business while traveling on or engaging in UC business.”
Yet, it seems that both Uber and Lyft make safety a priority. Both businesses do background checks on their drivers and have liability insurance in place, among other safety measures. Airbnb, which allows online and mobile users to rent their homes and apartments, verifies the identities of its guests and hosts in addition to providing messaging and a review system.
Who else is scared of Uber and startups like it? Taxi cab drivers in Washington, D.C., refused to pick up passengers around the Capitol in an effort to protest the rideshare app on Wednesday. Ironically, Uber’s business in the district boomed as a result.
In fact, cabbies across the globe are protesting Uber. It looks like Planet Earth is a little afraid of competition.
