As taxi companies continue to fight the rise of Uber, Lyft and other ride-sharing applications, the latest battleground that has appeared is here in Memphis.
It seems that wherever Uber and Lyft go there has been a string of lawsuits that have followed in their path, with one of the latest being a complaint put forward by a taxi car service in Memphis.
Memphis taxi car service takes action
A Memphis taxi car service filed a class action lawsuit against both companies, as it seeks to prove that they have gained an unfair advantage over the more traditional taxi services. By avoiding state statutes and regulation costs that normal taxi companies have to pay, it is alleged that this has provided an unfair competitive advantage.
In the lawsuit, it is advised that both Lyft and Uber do not conduct sufficient background checks on their drivers, pay certain for-hire fees, use the standard carrier registration system, are not insured for adequate liability and,lastly, do not ensure that the drivers have sufficiently appropriate driving licences.
It is claimed that by ignoring these requirements, which are enforced on ordinary taxi companies, it Uber and Lyft are able to operate at a much lower cost than aregular taxi and car service in Memphis.
Global trend
This lawsuit is only one of many, as the divisive topic of Uber and Lyft continues to make legal waves across the globe. In addition to Memphis, there have been similar suits filed in Texas, Pennsylvania, Florida and Georgia.
Outside of the US there has been even more controversy, in countries such as Germany, where they have received an outright ban,having been deemed to violate transport laws.
It remains to be seen what the future will hold, but it is worth noting that to ensure a safe journey, choosing a licenced and reputable taxi car service in Memphis is the smart choice.
I recently got a cab at the Sheridan Downtown to the airport. The cab name was City-Wide Cab. He had no meter or the ability to take a credit card. I was not aware of this till I got to the airport. He said it was a flat fee of $30.00 dollars. I did not have the cash. He certainly knew where the ATM machine was in the airport, so i could get the cash. Is it acceptable for a taxi cab not to have meters or the ability to use credit cards? This type of experience certainly hurts the taxi cab industry and makes you want to use an alternate form of transportation.