We hear time and time again the call for rideshare services to play on a level field with other modes of transportation.
Compared to taxicabs, services like UBER and LYFT are seemingly exempt from the same licensing and permits required by cabs. In a new report issued by City University of New York, Author Matthew Daus looked at equity between services and says the field is not level in many respects.
- Researchers want more equity between rideshare and transit
- Report says rideshare companies harmfully impact passengers with disabilities, the environment, congestion
"When it comes to the environment, it is crazy for someone to think that with all the tens of thousands of cars they've added in each city, that that's not having an impact on traffic congestion," said Daus.
More cars mean more harm to the environment, and other businesses with fleets that size would have to report to the government as to how they plan to mitigate the harm.
Additionally, through surge pricing, drivers are encouraged to move their vehicles into the most congested areas, making the traffic situation more difficult.
Surge pricing also rules out participation from those in lower economic classifications. Daus goes on to discuss services for disabled and under-served populations. For example, those without app-driven technology on their mobile phones, are unable to use the service.
Steven Polzin, PhD. with U.S.F.'s Center for Urban Transportation Research Center, says the study findings, while strongly worded, accurately define the current situation.
"It was interesting in that it was a very strong, passionate position. A little bit a-typical for research reports. Usually research reports are a little bit more diagnostic and not perhaps as strong of tone as that particular report was," Polzin said.
Passionate, but not out of line according to Polzin. For more information, read the entire report.