Uber had reportedly struck a deal with the DNC that it had also offered the Republicans in Cleveland: In exchange for free rides for VIPs, Uber and its customers would receive privileged access to a semi-secure rideshare purgatory by police lines outside the convention center. Other car services were ostensibly allowed to come and go as well, but in practice the access was far more contentious, with some Uber staffers blocking access points and turning away non-Uber cars.
Free market Republicans rejected the Uber monopoly, but the Dems were down. The convention not only provided a market opportunity for Uber, but a convenient political one as well. The company had faced legal opposition and stiff fines in Philadelphia ahead of the convention, but a generous offer of logistical support to a city about to be inundated with tens of thousands of road-clogging visitors could do a lot to repair a bumpy relationship.
I can drive for either - I also hate monopolies. If you qualify to drive for one, getting the other (without mentioning the other, of course) is easy.
I like Lyft better, BTW. They provide for the customers to leave a tip (Uber discourages it), and they don’t change their rates to screw the drivers. Also, they don’t limit fares (which is great for me as a driver); I had one ride of about 15 miles on New Year’s Eve for about $200. Let’s just say that if I were an Uber customer and had to pay that much, I’d never use them again.
So now we’re adding Uber and Coke to our DNU (do not use) list?
Central planners fail again.
So a city-owned, taxpayer-funded emergency vehicle was used to transport crones to a Planned Parenthood party. Philadelphians should be ashamed.
Aren’t a couple of ex-Obozo leeches high up the chain at Uber? Plouffe?