Uber rolls out safety features for drivers, passengers
NEW YORK — Uber is aiming to boost driver and passenger safety in an effort to rebuild trust in the brand.The ride-hailing company has created a feature on its app to reach out to passengers and drivers if it detects an accident or unplanned stop.
Women say Uber driver 'terrorized' them during 25-minute nightmare ride
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Three friends are speaking out two months after a nightmare 25-minute Uber ride through Sacramento, California left them fearing for their lives."I legitimately believed that we were going to die," said Theadora Fuerstenberg.It's an app thousands use every day but a June 15 Uber trip on Interstate 80 from a book club in Arden to Oak Park traumatized the three women."He would swerve in and out and then as he was doing this he would say, 'We're all going to die now,'" Fuerstenberg said.Fuerstenberg, Angela O'Neal and Katherine Vallaire say the Uber driver drove erratically and did not follow directions home.O'Neal was in the back seat and able to get through to 911 dispatchers.
Startup partners with Uber to sell snacks in the back seat
A startup called Cargo is partnering with Uber to sell snacks and give away free samples to passengers.A startup named Cargo has been placing little vending machine-style boxes in the backseats of ridesharing cars for a year.
Source: Uber facing probe into alleged gender discrimination
SAN FRANCISCO — U.S. employment regulators are investigating allegations that Uber set up a pay scale that discriminated against women working for the ride-hailing service.A person familiar with the probe says the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission opened the investigation in August 2017.
The 10 most popular occupations for Uber and Lyft drivers
MILWAUKEE -- Uber and Lyft have revolutionized the taxi industry by allowing individuals to work as freelance drivers-for-hire, using their personal vehicles.
'You cannot tell me what I can do in my car:' Uber driver fired for carrying concealed weapon
MILWAUKEE — Should Uber drivers in Milwaukee be allowed to carry concealed weapons?
Uber passenger tips driver with scratch ticket that leads to $140K prize
LAKEWOOD, Colo. -- A Colorado Uber driver received an unusual tip from a passenger that later led to him winning $140,000.The man, identified by the Colorado Lottery as Lakewood resident "James P.," was given a $5 Super Special Ultimate Bingo scratch ticket by one of his passengers.
Police release video of fatal crash by Uber self-driving SUV
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Video of a deadly self-driving vehicle crash in suburban Phoenix shows a pedestrian walking from a darkened area onto a street just moments before an Uber SUV strikes her.The lights on the SUV didn't illuminate 49-year-old Elaine Herzberg on Sunday night until a second or two before impact, raising questions about whether the vehicle could have stopped in time.The video shows the human backup driver in the SUV looking down until seconds before the crash.
Man arrested after arranging Uber to take '14-year-old girl' to his grandparents' house for sex
CANADIAN COUNTY, Okla. - A man has been arrested after arranging for an Uber to take someone he thought was a 14-year-old girl to his grandparents' house for sex.The Canadian County Sheriff's Office arrested 21-year-old Taylor Kilgore of Oklahoma City around 11:45 p.m. on Friday.The investigation into Kilgore began on Wednesday when he told an undercover investigator with the sheriff's office "he would like to hook up for sex" thinking he was talking to the 14-year-old girl.
Uber self-driving vehicle hits, kills pedestrian in Arizona
TEMPE, Ariz. — Police in a Phoenix suburb say one of Uber's self-driving vehicles has struck and killed a pedestrian.Police in the city of Tempe said Monday that the vehicle was in autonomous mode with an operator behind the wheel when the woman walking outside of a crosswalk was hit.Sgt.
Drunk man takes $1,600 Uber from West Virginia to New Jersey
GLOUCESTER COUNTY, N.J. — A New Jersey man who got drunk in West Virginia and mistakenly ordered a $1,635 Uber ride back to his home state says the experience was "crazy."NJ.com reported Wednesday that Kenny Bachman thought he was taking an Uber to where he was staying, near the West Virginia University campus.But when his driver woke him up two hours into the more than 300-mile journey to New Jersey, Bachman says he didn't know what was happening or who the driver was.The trip was made more expensive because Bachman gave the driver money for tolls and ordered an UberXL, which can hold up to six passengers.He says he unsuccessfully challenged the fare with Uber, which confirmed that the ride occurred.Bachman says he gave the driver five stars.
Uber begins offering rides to the doctor
SAN FRANCISCO -- Uber is driving deeper into health care by offering to take patients in every U.S. market where it operates to their next medical appointment.The ride-hailing service said Thursday its Uber Health business will handle rides set up by doctor's offices or other health care providers and then bill that business, not the patient, for the service.
Studies are increasingly clear: Uber, Lyft congest cities
BOSTON — One promise of ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft was fewer cars clogging city streets.
Uber, Waymo settled trade secrets clash
SAN FRANCISCO — Uber is settling a lawsuit filed by Google's autonomous car unit alleging that the ride-hailing service ripped off self-driving car technology.Both sides in the case issued statements confirming the settlement Friday morning in the midst of a federal court trial in the case.Google's Waymo unit says Uber agreed to take steps to make sure Waymo technology isn't used in Uber's autonomous vehicles.
Strange Uber cars seen in Milwaukee area -- now we know what they do
MILWAUKEE -- If you've been driving around the Milwaukee area the last couple of days and seen strange looking Uber vehicles, you're not alone.
In new setback, Uber to lose license to work in London
LONDON — Uber will lose its license to operate in London because it may be endangering public safety and security, the local regulator said Friday, in a severe blow to a company already facing big questions over its corporate culture.The company, which has been beset by a litany of scandals over its management style — from accusations of sexism to the illegal use of software to trick regulators — was told it was not "fit and proper" to keep operating in London, where it has 3.5 million passengers and 40,000 drivers.The regulator, Transport for London, said it "considers that Uber's approach and conduct demonstrate a lack of corporate responsibility in relation to a number of issues which have potential public safety and security implications."It cited instances in which Uber failed to report serious criminal offences as well as its penchant to deceive regulators in its decision to not renew its license when it expires on Sept. 30.
Uber taps Expedia's Dara Khosrowshahi as CEO
Uber has chosen a new chief executive: Expedia CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, according to a source close to the company.The embattled ride-hailing startup has been without a CEO since founder and former CEO Travis Kalanick resigned in June after an investigation into the company's culture.
Uber driver drops fare for stranded couple looking to elope
BEAR, Del. — A Philadelphia couple eloped with an assist from a sentimental Uber driver who provided a free ride after learning his fares were getting married.The News Journal in Wilmington reports that driver David Scullion II of Bear, Delaware, picked up the stranded couple Friday on southbound Interstate 95 after they had a flat tire.When he learned they were eloping, Scullion offered to drop the fare if he could serve as a witness.The trio made it to the court clerk in Cecil County, Maryland, just in time.Scullion also helped the couple repair the flat and jump-started their car after they had left the lights running in a panic.Scullion told the paper he felt compelled as a hopeless romantic to turn off the fare meter.
Uber CEO Kalanick resigns under investor pressure
DETROIT — Travis Kalanick, the combative and embattled CEO of ride-hailing giant Uber, has resigned under pressure from investors at a pivotal time for the company.Uber's board confirmed the move early Wednesday, saying in a statement that Kalanick is taking time to heal from the death of his mother in a boating accident "while giving the company room to fully embrace this new chapter in Uber's history." He will remain on the Uber Technologies Inc.
Uber driver cited $250 for not speaking English
MIAMI -- An Uber driver was cited $250 in Miami for not speaking English, local officials said Monday.After dropping off passengers at Miami International Airport, Carmen Hechavarria received a ticket for apparently breaking a county ordinance that says drivers of ride-hailing apps must "be able to communicate in the English language."Hechavarria, 54, appeared not to understand when an officer greeted her "good morning" on Sunday, June 18th, according to an incident report from the Miami-Dade county aviation department.