Is Getting an Uber-Lyft from a Sidecar Different from Hailing a Taxi?

Abstract

Ridesharing has a long, storied history, beginning as carsharing clubs during World War II and evolving into the current technologically savvy communities. Ridesharing has traditionally enjoyed the support of public agencies at all levels of government because of the potential gains in congestion relief and environmental sustainability. However, the most recent incarnation of ridesharing, dynamic ridesharing, has the taxi industry and the taxi regulatory agencies crying foul. They allege that dynamic ridesharing companies engage in unfair and deceptive practices, compete unfairly by skirting regulatory requirements, make false representations, and interfere with protected contractual relationships. This paper examines the central question in this controversy, Is dynamic ridesharing just a taxi in ridesharing's clothing? The examination of ridesharing history and modal characteristics such as service provided, travel patterns and routes, financial compensation, and physical characteristics produces a negative answer. However, this new and exciting industry could benefit from regulations that ensure equality of access for the disabled and other classes of persons while protecting the consumer from credit fraud, personal data breach, and insurance gaps.