San Francisco Goes After Uber, Lyft For Data On City Trips, Driver Bonuses (sfchronicle.com)

Carolyn Said, reporting for San Francisco Chronicle: It's a San Francisco truism: Every other car on the streets these days seems to bear a logo for Uber or Lyft -- and many are double-parked as they pick up or drop off passengers. Now the city seeks to compel Uber and Lyft to share details on how many cars are roving the streets, so it can ensure that they comply with local laws; assess their impact on traffic congestion, safety, pollution and parking; and ascertain if they are accessible for disabled and low-income riders. City Attorney Dennis Herrera on Monday subpoenaed Uber and Lyft to disgorge records on four years of driving practices, disability access and service in San Francisco. "No one disputes the convenience of the ride-hailing industry, but that convenience evaporates when you're stuck in traffic behind a double-parked Uber or Lyft, or when you can't get a ride because the vehicle isn't accessible to someone with a disability or because the algorithm disfavors the neighborhood where you live," Herrera said in a statement. The subpoenas seek information on "miles and hours logged by drivers, incentives that encourage drivers to 'commute' from as far away as Fresno or Los Angeles, driver guidance and training, accessible vehicle information, and the services provided to residents of every San Francisco neighborhood," Herrera's office said.

Comments

It's a tax play.

[Anonymous Coward]

They want taxes per mile like any other commercial vehicle pays(although usually at the state level not local). This is setting the framework

Re:It's a tax play.

[sexconker]

If they cared about double parked cars, they'd issue tickets.
If they cared about congestion, they'd put down the car counting strips and adjust signal timing.
If they cared about accessibility, they'd run more buses to residential areas.

I don't see a legal reason Uber or Lyft would have to give up that data. My standard policy is "fuck them" for both Uber and Lyft, but they should laugh at this "subpoena".

Re: It's a tax play.

[Anonymous Coward]

ALL of those same exact things were being experienced long BEFORE Uber and Lyft ever existed

San Francisco Wants to enforce the traffic laws?

[OYAHHH]

I call BS on that.

At any moment in time it would take me probably less than 5 minutes to locate a delivery truck parked on a city street while being unloaded.

When I see that being curtailed I will believe the rest.