As Covid-19 restrictions ease and people begin to excitedly head out outdoors again for much-missed socializing, Uber wants to make sure it’s a key part of that new-found mobility.
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https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/uber-urges-people-to-get-back-out-on-the-road-again-in-new-ad-campaign/
Bentley has launched the new Bentayga S, bringing extra sporting agility to the already popular Uber luxury SUV family. After the launch of the Bentayga in 2015, an S version has now been introduced based on feedback from the huge number of customers that enjoy the dynamic performance of the Bentayga on-road. Featuring some special additions and visual differentiators, the new model comes from Bentley’s established ‘S’ brand.
The British super luxury car maker says that the new enhanced sports Bentayga provides an even more engaging drive, with Bentley Dynamic Ride active anti-roll control fitted as standard and an enhanced Sports chassis mode. A claimed 15 per cent increase in damping stiffens the chassis and provides a platform for a more dynamic SPORT mode tune for the electronic stability control.
The muscular exterior design of the new Bentayga S is stylish and purposeful in equal measure. The sportier character of the Bentayga S is clearly visible from every angle, and made more dramatic with a suite of changes that change the character of the car both inside and out. It gets distinctive black details, and a more sporting exhaust note thanks to a newly designed, free-flowing sports exhaust. The Bentayga S can also be identified by a range of special exterior features, including new unique 22-inch wheels with three finishes, ‘S’ badges positioned on the lower edge of the front doors, and Blackline Specification as standard. It also gets a larger rear spoiler, gloss black side sills and lower bumpers, front and rear. In keeping with the theme, dark tint lenses for the headlamps and tail lamps, black door mirrors and black split oval tailpipes are also part of the package.
Luxurious cabin
A Bentley announcement mentions that inside the Bentayga S, a luxuriously refined cabin, and a unique style can be found using new seats, unique stitching, a new colour split and Alcantara leather to reflect the exterior and increased dynamic ability. Colour accents on the instrument panel, centre console, door pads and seat bolsters as well as more Alcantara to seat cushion and back inserts, steering wheel and gear lever, give the Bentayga S a bold and contemporary style. ‘S’ badges can be found on the passenger fascia as well as new graphics in the driver’s instrument panel and illuminated tread-plates, identifying the new model.
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https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/specials/auto-focus/bentleys-uber-luxury-sport-utility-gets-extra-bling/article34660890.ece
The best Uber dash cams allow you to monitor what’s going on in front of your vehicle like other dash cams, but also keep an eye on your passengers too. And a few even come with three cameras, to cover the rear of your vehicle as well (giving you a front and rear dash cam, as well as one to record what is going on inside).
Being able to monitor and record everything like this is crucial for your career as an Uber or Lyft driver, helping you to settle disputes with passengers and other drivers, avoid lawsuits and give your insurance company what it needs to finalize claims. They work for those who want to record the shenanigans of your family too – or to give peace of mind for those car sharing. And the good news is, the best Uber dash cams are surprisingly affordable these days. So buying one is a real no-brainer.
But which are the best models? In this article, we bring you the best Uber dash cams available today, for a range of budgets, and explain what each has to offer. We’ll pay attention to how much area they cover and at what resolution they record, as well as smaller details like how they’re mounted on your dashboard.
Read More At:
https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/best-uber-dash-cams
Ride hailing major Uber on Friday said its drivers testing positive for COVID-19 will receive a one-time payout of up to ₹6,800 in partial earnings support for 14 days.
Drivers furnishing a positive RT-PCR test from an accredited lab will receive a one-time payout of up to a maximum of ₹6,800 in partial earnings support for 14 days, depending upon their city of residence and engagement on the platform, according to a statement.
This is in addition to Uber’s previous announcement of the ₹18.5 crore (USD 2.5 million) initiative to get 1.5 lakh drivers on its platform vaccinated over the next six months.
Uber said COVID-positive drivers will be unable to access the platform while they’re receiving partial earnings support as a safety measure to help limit the spread of the virus.
In the unfortunate event of a driver succumbing to COVID-19, Uber will provide a one-time support package worth ₹75,000 to help meet the immediate needs of surviving family members, it added.
“Since the onset of the pandemic, Uber drivers have shown themselves to be essential workers, helping India and its people get through the crisis.
“We are pleased to be able to offer drivers who contract the virus partial earnings support while they recuperate at home,” Uber India and South Asia Head (Supply and Driver Operations) Pavan Vaish said.
He added that alongside its driver vaccination programme, the latest initiative will help Indian authorities to break COVID-19’s transmission chain.
Reprinted From:
https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/uber-to-offer-financial-support-to-covid-positive-drivers-11622221025367.html
Heineken’s asking Californians to come on and take a free ride.
Those using Waze to navigate their way to bars, beaches, and other outings this weekend might see a message from the beer brand that cautions against getting behind the wheel after downing a few drinks. To further discourage drunk driving, Heineken is offering Waze users a “rideshare voucher that they can redeem at any point during the summer.” (No word on how much the voucher is good for, or how many each user gets.)
Heineken is piloting the campaign in California this summer, but might expand it to states including Texas, Florida, and Georgia, per Ad Age.
According to Heineken, it’s the first alcohol company to partner with Waze in the US.
Déjà vu: This isn’t Heineken’s first rodeo with Waze—not long ago, it debuted a similar push in South Africa. A Waze case study claims 100% of vouchers were downloaded during the campaign’s 33-day window.
Zoom out: Heineken’s been saying “When You Drive, Never Drink” for a while now. Last year, it tapped Formula 1 World Champions (and father-son pair) Keke and Nico Rosberg for a commercial that warned against drunk driving.
Reprinted From:
https://www.morningbrew.com/marketing/stories/2021/05/28/heineken-tells-waze-users-grab-uber-theyve-drinks?utm_source=&utm_medium=syndication&utm_campaign=feed
Pre-pandemic, when you hopped on the highway, Ubers and Lyfts were everywhere. Now, they’re few and far between.
“Yeah, expect it to be for a little while,” said Chris Gerace, a part-time driver, and contributor to the Ride Share Guy, a block aimed to help gig workers strategize and make better decisions while on the road and working. They also give up-to-date info on the gig industry.
Rideshare companies admit they are hurting for more drivers and riders have noticed.
“You are significantly waiting a longer duration of time to get your ride,” said Kristiane, from Tampa.
“I took it from St. Pete to Tampa,” Omar Osman said. “It took a little longer than average to get to me.”
Gerace says the lack of drivers is multi-faceted.
“They went to other opportunities, whether it’s a different job, maybe a different part of the gig economy, maybe food delivery like door dash or Postmates or Uber eats,” he said. “Maybe just not feeling comfortable taking rides yet.”
And he says it has forced rideshare companies to step up to the challenge.
“They’re really almost in desperation mode to try and bring drivers back,” Gerace said.
Uber announced it will offer a $250 million dollar one-time stimulus to entice people to get back behind the wheel. Javi Correoso, a spokesperson for Uber in Florida says drivers in the Tampa area average about $22 an hour for 20 hours a week.
“We are increasing new incentives to those hourly earnings to roughly about $27 an hour,” he said.
In Pinellas County, Correoso says retirees make up a large percentage of drivers.
“Retirees have been in the age bracket that’s most at risk for the pandemic,” he said. “We’ve heard from drivers that they’ll feel more comfortable returning to the platform once more people are vaccinated.”
entice drivers to get back behind the wheel
Photo by: WFTS
Rideshare-map-generic-WFTS.jpg
By: Heather LeighPosted at 5:36 PM, Apr 23, 2021 and last updated 6:30 PM, Apr 23, 2021
TAMPA, Fla. — Pre-pandemic, when you hopped on the highway, Ubers and Lyfts were everywhere. Now, they’re few and far between.
“Yeah, expect it to be for a little while,” said Chris Gerace, a part-time driver, and contributor to the Ride Share Guy, a block aimed to help gig workers strategize and make better decisions while on the road and working. They also give up-to-date info on the gig industry.
Rideshare companies admit they are hurting for more drivers and riders have noticed.
“You are significantly waiting a longer duration of time to get your ride,” said Kristiane, from Tampa.
“I took it from St. Pete to Tampa,” Omar Osman said. “It took a little longer than average to get to me.”
Gerace says the lack of drivers is multi-faceted.
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“They went to other opportunities, whether it’s a different job, maybe a different part of the gig economy, maybe food delivery like door dash or Postmates or Uber eats,” he said. “Maybe just not feeling comfortable taking rides yet.”
And he says it has forced rideshare companies to step up to the challenge.
“They’re really almost in desperation mode to try and bring drivers back,” Gerace said.
Uber announced it will offer a $250 million dollar one-time stimulus to entice people to get back behind the wheel. Javi Correoso, a spokesperson for Uber in Florida says drivers in the Tampa area average about $22 an hour for 20 hours a week.
“We are increasing new incentives to those hourly earnings to roughly about $27 an hour,” he said.
In Pinellas County, Correoso says retirees make up a large percentage of drivers.
“Retirees have been in the age bracket that’s most at risk for the pandemic,” he said. “We’ve heard from drivers that they’ll feel more comfortable returning to the platform once more people are vaccinated.”
Lyft is also trying to lure drivers back and say they will offer up money guarantees for the first 100 rides you do in 30 days. Gerace says someone sent him an impressive incentive specific to Tampa.
“$6,000 for 100 rides, that’s huge,” he said. “With Tampa, it was very strange to see that type of earnings guarantee, normally it’s much less.”
Gerace says those numbers oftentimes are based on your IP address. When we searched driver incentives from a computer in Pinellas it promised $2,300.
“For those who are driving, it’s great to see them back,” said Kristiane. “I think we’re all getting a little bit more comfortable in those confined spaces.”
The lack of drivers may also be the culprit behind higher delivery fees when it comes to Uber eats.
It’s is also leading to more surge pricing where rates can sometimes double or triple. Yellow Cab in Tampa says it’s allowed them to be more competitive in the market.
Reprinted From:
https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/in-depth/rideshare-companies-offering-money-to-entice-drivers-to-get-back-behind-the-wheel
Alex Rosenblat, an author and labor researcher, wrote for years about how Uber Technologies Inc. obscures pay structures, surveils drivers and creates systems that facilitate discrimination against those workers. Now she works for Uber.
The ride-hailing company hired Rosenblat last month as head of marketplace policy, fairness and research. Her appointment, which hasn’t been previously reported, is part of an effort to reform Uber’s treatment of, and relationship with, its drivers.
Rosenblat is best known for her 2018 book, “Uberland: How Algorithms Are Rewriting the Rules of Work,” for which she interviewed hundreds of drivers about their working conditions. The book highlights driver stories of pay disparities, pervasive surveillance and the lopsided power dynamics in algorithm-mediated work.
As an Uber employee, Rosenblat said her responsibility is to “get the company to take into consideration the experiences and point of view of drivers, especially at the product level” and that her work will be informed by past research.
In an emailed statement, Uber said it hired Rosenblat because the company wants “people at Uber who care about driver issues and who aren’t afraid to challenge our thinking on any given issue.”
Before joining Uber, Rosenblat was a senior researcher at Data and Society, a nonprofit institute that seeks to “challenge the power and purpose of technology in society.” Founded in 2014, the organization publishes research on artificial intelligence, the impact of technology on labor and health and online disinformation. The MacArthur Foundation and a philanthropic organization overseen by EBay co-founder Pierre Omidyar are among the 20 financial supporters named on the group’s most recent annual report.
Uber has long had an adversarial relationship with many academics, who have criticized the company for restricting data access to select researchers. More than 70 gig economy academics wrote in an open letter after the publication of a 2020 study by Cornell University’s Institute for Workplace Studies commissioned by Uber and Lyft Inc., calling its findings suspect.
Alexandrea Ravenelle was among those who signed the letter. In an interview, she expressed admiration for Rosenblat but a continued distrust of the company. Ravenelle, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, said she’s concerned Uber will ignore Rosenblat’s internal critiques and said the poor state of driver conditions has been public knowledge for years.
“When you interview the workers, the situation never seems to be improving for them,” Ravenelle said. “If anyone can help them to make a difference, it will be Alex, but I think she’s got a uphill battle ahead of her.”
This isn’t the first time Rosenblat considered trying to change things from the inside. In 2017, after three years of researching the company, Uber attempted to hire her. She pondered the offer but ultimately declined.
“This moment says a lot about what happens to experts: Once they know enough to be a threat, the companies they study will try to absorb them,” Rosenblat wrote about the attempted recruitment in “Uberland.”
That same year, Rosenblat co-authored a paper describing how Uber’s use of customer reviews to evaluate performance could amount to workplace discrimination due to consumer biases. She is now working to apply these findings to service and policy design, as part of her goal to “encourage the company to assess product impact on drivers as individuals, rather than as part of an abstract group.”
Rosenblat recently appeared at a speaker series about the ethics of algorithmic governance and co-authored a post about the disappearance of secure employment during recessions. She said she changed her mind about joining Uber because there are now many others conducting the kind of research she has championed and can carry her mantle.
Reprinted From:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-17/uber-hires-prominent-critic-to-focus-on-treatment-of-drivers
Uber is a platform which gives you the power to get wherever and whenever you want to go with access to a variety of rides across the city. Uber made travelling convenient for people commuting daily. Uber mobile application is user friendly with an easy to understand interface.
Uber solves the tension of late night or early morning ride availability issues. Open the application, book your ride, the assigned Uber driver will then come and pick you up to drive you to your requested destination. There are always pros and cons to everything. Like: long waiting time for your Uber due to unforeseen reasons, online payment issues or cancellation fee issues.
Uber can charge the rider with a cancellation fee to pay the driver for his efforts, coming to the location and waiting. Where this is a right step sometimes the cancellation fee is wrongly charged. Here is how you can get a refund for the cancellation fee on Uber, follow the step-by-step guide given below.
How to get a refund for cancellation fee on Uber
Step 1: After cancellation of the trip, go to TRIPS in the menu.
Step 2: Click on the cancelled trip to see the cancellation amount. Tap on the ‘Get trip help? option
Step 3: Tap on ‘Dispute my cancellation fee’ from the given options.
Step 4: Now select Review my cancellation fee and submit.
Step 5: It will display some predefined reason, select your reason and submit.
Reprinted From:
https://www.indiatoday.in/information/story/how-to-get-a-refund-for-the-cancellation-fee-on-uber-step-by-step-guide-1770215-2021-02-17
Uber is having a torrid time, and I can’t help but feel that this is an inflection point for the ride-hailing giant. It either has to set off on a new path towards fairness for its workers, or this point, right here, right now, will mark the beginning of its end.
Those who have followed Uber’s so-called “disruption” of the taxi market, will know the constant debate between drivers and the “app platform” over the fairness of its algorithm, and how it pays its workers, all too well.
It’s a David and Goliath fight, but David is still yet to find his projectile.
While much of that discourse focuses around what is essentially Uber’s taxi business, the company has expanded to, and now contracted from, new and exciting areas of mobility tech, which now represent nothing more than dead ends.
Last year, Uber retreated from two crucial areas of development, flying transport and autonomous driverless taxis. Uber has spoken of these two futures as being crucial in its never ending quest for consistent profitability. Flying taxis should lower operating costs, and move people around with greater speed, making them a more efficient way to travel.
Autonomous taxis were explored for many of the same reasons. By removing the human driver from an Uber car, the company removes its biggest cost. With a fleet of millions of driverless self-driving taxis Uber’s around the globe, former CEO Travis Kalanick boasted in 2016 that it would change everything.
The reality five years later is quite different.
Time to sell
Last year, Uber sold its flying taxi arm — for a profit — to Joby Aviation, a Californian flying car startup. The companies have struck a sort of partnership deal, integrating each others’ services into their apps. If flying taxis do become a thing, Uber will still be able to offer them as a service.
The ride-hailing company employed a similar strategy to its self-driving taxi division, Advanced Technologies Group (ATG). After pumping billions into developing self-driving tech, Uber sold ATG to Aurora, an autonomous vehicle startup headed by a former Waymo engineer.
On the surface, the sale appeared to remove a costly arm of Uber‘s business in efforts to expedite profitability. However, Uber is also investing $400 million into Aurora and taking a 26% stake. If self-driving taxis do become a reality, Uber will have access to the tech it needs to realize its ever elusive driverless taxi dream.
By selling these two divisions, Uber is no longer hemorrhaging cash on endeavors which are wild bets of science fiction, and have been called a “waste of money” by some prominent investors. The ride-hailing company is now a leaner version of its bloated former self, with greater focus on its core business there is hope that it’ll be able to remedy its two ever persistent challenges: its relationship with its drivers and profit.
Business model takes a hit
However, over the past few months, Uber has been coming up against hurdle after hurdle, and every single one threatens the very foundation its business is built on.
On Monday this week, Brussels’ local government banned drivers from picking up riders using the app, effectively halting operations for the business in Belgium’s capital. This ban was implemented because Uber has found a workaround, after another one of its services in the city, UberPop, got banned.
That situation is minor in comparison to the UK Supreme Court’s ruling from last month. After a four-year long legal case, the Supreme Court ruled that Uber’s drivers are workers, not independent contractors. This puts them far closer to being official employees than ever before, and affords them basic rights and securities that they should have had all along.
This ruling is the exact opposite of what Uber experienced on the other side of the pond in California. Last year, the Golden State’s voting public sided with the ride-hailing company, giving the go-ahead for Prop 22, its last ditch attempt to keep its business model alive and avoid paying drivers benefits.
Despite providing some benefits for drivers, Prop 22 allows Uber to continue largely as it always has. Uber will continue to have ultimate control over its app, how it delegates rides, and how much it charges customers. As it happens, these factors were what led UK judges to decide drivers are workers, not contractors. In the UK’s ruling drivers were found to be in a “position of subordination and dependency to Uber.”
Even though Prop 22 passed, it seems that drivers are now suffering more than before. In a recent article from the Guardian, drivers said that pay has fallen and working conditions remain poor since the vote.
Time for a shakedown
It seems Uber and its drivers live in two different realities, which are starting to collide. Last year, Uber surveyed its drivers and found they are generally in support of the ride-hailing firm’s agenda. Third-party surveys have also shown that drivers would prefer to remain independent contractors rather than becoming workers with benefits.
Academics have been critical of Uber’s approach to these surveys, suggesting that the company has conflated the ability to offer flexible work with employment status. But it’s done little to derail the Uber train.
Following the UK Supreme Court’s ruling, the ride-hailing firm sent out another survey to drivers via its app. It asked drivers about flexible work and benefits, but failed to mention holiday pay or the national minimum wage. Responses to questions were also limited to just a few choices, according to the Guardian.
Uber is now coming under fire from drivers’ unions for intentionally wording survey questions to get the answers it needs to soften legal blows.
Even though the Supreme Court’s ruling is final, it seems Uber is doing all it can to launch another attack on the UK’s legal system. Rather than playing by the rules, it’s intent on changing the rules to fit its business model, no matter what the cost or how reprehensible it might be. Perhaps this trait stems from the company’s hellbent need to “disrupt” markets to feel like it’s doing anything. News flash, Uber: you can offer a cool business within the confines of the law.
A new gig economy
Why is Uber always intent on fighting back every time it comes up against legal opposition? The answer is simple. If it doesn’t it will effectively sign its own death warrant.
The company has retreated from less sure business opportunities, like flying and driverless taxis, to focus on its core mission. But that isn’t going to come easy, so it’s perhaps a good thing it’s not carrying unnecessary baggage.
The UK’s ruling is set to define not just Uber’s future business model, but the entire workings of the gig economy in Britain. It has set a precedent that Europe seems keen to follow too.
Having to pay drivers benefits and minimum wages will dramatically increase its operating costs. It’s hard to put a definitive figure on that, but a San Francisco Chronicle article said the company’s labor costs could increase by 30% if drivers had to be recognized as employees.
As a business that’s yet to turn a consistent profit, there are only two parts of Uber’s business that can absorb an increase in costs: drivers or riders. If costs for riders increase, conventional taxis all of a sudden become more appealing. As for drivers, with reports suggesting conditions aren’t improving, it seems they are at their limit already.
Whatever happens next for Uber, big change is surely afoot.
Reprinted From:
https://thenextweb.com/shift/2021/03/02/uber-is-this-the-beginning-of-the-end-for-the-ride-hailing-goliath/
The Lyft and Uber ridesharing companies announced new features that may aid in getting people to vaccination sites amid the pandemic.
The “Rides for Others” and “Lyft Family” features were launched by Lyft, Friday, with the intention of helping users more easily request rides for others, particularly older adults who may otherwise struggle with the app.
“Right now, millions of older Americans are facing transportation issues in trying to get to their vaccination appointments. Equipping caregivers with the tools they need to ensure their loved ones can access essential medical care is critical to beating this virus,” Megan Callahan, VP of Lyft Healthcare said in a statement. “We know that access to reliable transportation can have a direct impact on health outcomes, and we’re proud of the products and partnerships we’re building to ensure equitable access to vaccines for the people who need them most.”
The new features allow users to add others to their account, order a ride for others and track the driver’s trip.
Uber sidesharing launched its own vaccine-focused initiative this week, teaming with Walgreens to give users free rides to their vaccination appointments at the pharmacy.
Walgreens pointed to the CDC’s finding that transportation has been a “barrier” for Americans trying to get the vaccine and their partnership with Uber aids in that regard.
“By combining Walgreens deep experience in community care with Uber’s transportation technology and logistics expertise, we will take bold action to address vaccine access and hesitancy among those hit hardest by the pandemic,” Walgreens president John Standley said in a statement.
The city of Los Angeles used up its supply of vaccines on Thursday and was forced to shut down its city-run centers for the weekend, although several L.A. County-run vaccination sites are still offering second doses to healthcare workers and those over 64-years old.
On Thursday, L.A. County reported 3,497 new single-day cases of COVID-19 and 137 single-day deaths.
Reprinted From:
How Lyft And Uber Are Helping People Get To Vaccination Sites
