Clogged Streets? Smog? - There's an App for That

NEW YORK, Nov. 3, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- As President of the National Limousine Association, I am fascinated by UC Davis' Institute of Transportation Studies' recently published report, demonstrating ride-hailing's impact on American cities and it's influence on the choices made by the inhabitants of these cities. The data clearly proves that ride-hailing companies are likely adding to, not reducing, traffic and congestion. It turns out that Uber, along with other ride-hailing companies, are in fact clogging the streets. Running counter to a pristine vision of a "shared" future that was imagined by numerous experts and even touted in a hopeful article by The New York Times.

One of the most staggering data points from the study suggests that the use of ride-hailing apps, has resulted in 6% reduction in public transit ridership within major cities. Researchers at UC Davis were also able to conclude that many of the ride-hailing trips that were taken, are trips that would not have been made at all if the apps did not exist. In addition to the impact on congestion, the potential environmental consequences of this type of shift in behavior necessitate a deeper dive into Uber/Lyft's impact on urban mobility. Moreover, once comprehensive data has been secured, cities across America must take action and enforce informed policy decisions to further protect passenger safety and drivers at large.

As the global voice of the private driver transportation industry, we feel it is our obligation to create a safer and more accountable system for passengers and operators. While organizations such as Uber Scandals, Ride Safe World, Who's Driving You, and the National Limousine Association's own Ride Responsibly tirelessly work to inform the public about the problems associated with Uber and Lyft, it is up to our legislators to take action in order to protect the drivers and riders who rely on these companies for their livelihood and transportation. Therefore, it is critical that we encourage and quickly work to secure this additional data from other leading national transportation research centers that are funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Additionally, it's crucial for those ride-hailing companies/ private mobility services to share their data (while not compromising passenger privacy or leaking valuable information to competitors), who want to act like public buses, e.g., Lyft shuttle. A recent CityLab article states how "city officials are forced to base policy decisions on data derived from public sources, and that information is becoming less representative of residents' total trips." CityLab reports that this lack of data can constrain other policy making decisions, such as implementing road diets or closing lanes during construction.

So, as ride-hailing companies continue to expand, we need our government's decisions to be based on hard numbers rather than suspicion. We need it ASAP, and we owe it to the safety of the American people.

SOURCE National Limousine Association