The Case Against Uber

The prosecution rests.

1 minute read

August 14, 2019, 5:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Uber Protest

rmnoa357 / Shutterstock

Angie Schmitt surveys the growing body evidence of the destructive effects of ride-hailing companies—the most recent anecdote pulled from the headlines last week when the news broke that Uber lost $5.2 billion in the last quarter alone.

There's also evidence that Uber increases traffic, cannibalizes public transit, and exploits laborers, as listed by Schmitt.

Schmitt doesn't just the ills created by ride-hailing companies—there's also a prescription:

It’s not up to Uber and Lyft to fix that problem — it’s up to our leaders to give their constituents more options for cheap, safe commuting. Unlike Uber and Lyft, mass transit does not need to make a profit, so mayors and governors should invest public money on the greatest public good: public transit.

Friday, August 9, 2019 in Streetsblog USA

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