Dozens of supporters of the homespun political action committee that brought two multibillion-dollar global corporations to heel last May held a victory party of sorts in Central Austin last week. According to the invitation, the Our City, Our Safety, Our Choice PAC event was nominally about raising money for a new battle as the PAC’s […]
Transportation Network Companies
Companies that provide transportation services through applications such as Uber or Lyft.
Posted inTransportation
Austin’s hotels resting well without Uber and Lyft
More than two months after Uber and Lyft shut down operations in Austin, one sector whose customers relied heavily on the companies has collectively shrugged and embraced the proliferation of new and existing alternatives. At a convention-style meet-and-greet at the Hyatt Regency hotel on Monday, representatives of those alternatives – including several of the upstart […]
Posted inReporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: TNC (and TNC-adjacent) battles continue
We’re here for your posts… If you checked out of the news over the weekend, the Austin Monitor has your back. Late Friday afternoon, the city’s Transportation Department attempted to enter the Matrix and track down the Facebook group for the listing service Arcade City. Unfortunately, it did so at the Capital Factory co-working space. It […]
Posted inTransportation
Council approves law barring many former offenders from driving for taxi companies, TNCs
City Council approved an ordinance that will bar many convicted of low-level criminal offenses from operating a taxi or driving for transportation network companies such as Uber and Lyft for many years after their offense. Those convicted of certain felony offenses, including a felony-level charge for selling, manufacturing or delivering drugs, will be permanently barred […]
Posted inTexas State Legislature
Uber and Lyft swing by the Legislature
Uber and Lyft were back in Austin on Wednesday afternoon for a rambling hearing at the State Capitol that also featured several upstart competitors, representatives from friendly and not-so-friendly cities and at least one NFL Hall of Famer. The State House of Representatives Business and Industry Committee met at 10 a.m. Wednesday and officially kicked […]
Posted inReporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: True Facts
Über Uber… Avid Whispers readers will note that, last week, we reported on an erroneous Uber claim that the Circuit of the Americas racetrack was outside of the Austin City Limits and drivers “could earn BIG” by driving people to and from the X Games. Of course, the city annexed the track in 2012, making […]
Posted inTransportation
Local tech creators unveil nonprofit ride-hailing app
Standing atop the same stage where men and women perform bawdy pranks as part of adult entertainment-themed bingo every Tuesday at the Alamo Drafthouse’s Highball, local tech leader Joe Liemandt added another ride-hailing company to the list of those scrambling to fill the roads in the absence of Uber and Lyft. This one is called […]
Posted inTransportation
At City Hall, tempers flare over TNC resolution
City Council has formally taken steps to accelerate the expansion of ride-hailing options in order to fill the chasm created by Uber and Lyft’s abrupt departure earlier this month. Thursday’s discussion on the dais was just the latest entry in a months-old political soap opera, and this time the dramatic twist was a rare flash […]
Posted inCity Council
Council scrambling to find replacements for Uber and Lyft
City leaders traded accusations of dishonesty over ride-hailing regulations at a meeting Tuesday as they grappled with potential solutions to the transportation void created by the recent departure of Uber and Lyft. The debate was prompted by a resolution proposed by Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo that directs city staff to explore a number of […]
Posted inTransportation
Some confusion at Austin’s first ride-hailing driver fair
Former full-time Uber and Lyft driver Kurt Wagenman showed up to Austin’s first transportation network company (TNC) driver fair on Tuesday with a misleading email in his inbox. “As the city has mentioned, (fingerprinting) will be free for now,” read Wagenman aloud from an email signed by ride-hailing company Get Me’s Austin city manager, Patricio […]
Posted inTransportation
If Uber and Lyft leave, could others step up?
Unbeknownst to some, the city of Austin has licensed five ride-hailing companies for operation. In case you haven’t opened your mailbox or clicked on your TV recently, two of those companies — Uber and Lyft — are currently embroiled in a public vote over what regulations the companies should be subject to. “We can all […]
Posted inAustin
Opponents question legality of Prop 1 spampaign
The political action committee fighting against Proposition 1 suggested on Wednesday that Uber, Lyft and the PAC those corporations have poured millions into could be breaking the law in their fight to rewrite the city’s ride-hailing regulations. “To be blunt, this campaign doesn’t pass the smell test,” said former City Council Member Laura Morrison, a […]