Tag Archives: taxis

Draft ordinance on vehicles for hire is out

Posted on April 23, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Mayor Parker puts another item on City Council’s to do list. A proposed Houston ordinance could legalize hundreds of for-hire drivers providing rides through smartphone applications, but would require those drivers meet the same permitting and safety requirements as taxicab … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

No restraining order against Uber and Lyft

Posted on April 22, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The ridesharing services in Houston and San Antonio can continue to operate, at least for now. A federal judge Monday declined to issue a temporary restraining order sought by Houston and San Antonio cab companies hoping to block ride-sharing services … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on No restraining order against Uber and Lyft

Uber goes rogue

Posted on April 17, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

That sound you hear is me shaking my head. At least one ride-sharing company has decided to openly defy city law that bans its unlicensed drivers from charging for rides. While a few free-ride promotions remain ongoing, Uber spokeswoman Nairi … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Uber goes rogue

Taxi companies file suit against Uber and Lyft

Posted on April 10, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Color me skeptical. Taxi companies in Houston and San Antonio took their turf war with two online companies to federal court Tuesday, saying Uber and Lyft are operating illegally and skimming money from taxi firms that abide by the law. … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The rideshare battles continue

Posted on April 4, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

From Houston: The issue came up at yesterday’s council meeting and Mayor Annise Parker said that undercover Houston police sting operations have resulted in 26 citations for Uber and Lyft drivers. They were likely, misdemeanor violations for operating an illegal … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The rideshare battles continue

A bumpy ride for Lyft in San Antonio

Posted on March 31, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Ride sharing service Lyft has made its move into San Antonio, where much like it did in Houston it is offering free rides while regulatory issues are negotiated. Unlike Houston, the official reception they got was distinctly unfriendly. Less than … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on A bumpy ride for Lyft in San Antonio

The Seattle approach to Uber and Lyft

Posted on March 23, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

While we wait in Houston for City Council to take action on amending the taxi and limousine codes to deal with the entry of Uber and Lyft, the city of Seattle took a novel approach to the issue. In a … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Lyft has some stumbles

Posted on March 14, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Oops. Lyft, known for its pink mustaches, has again been caught red-handed in Houston breaking a basic driving law. A driver for the company, which pairs riders with drivers via smartphone app, picked up a Houston investigator Monday and was … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

City to Uber: Enough with the emails already

Posted on March 1, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

So this happened. The battle over Houston’s taxi rules moved Thursday from the streets to cyberspace, reflecting ongoing tension between an aggressive newcomer and a city government determined to proceed cautiously. Thousands of email messages urging elected leaders to allow … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on City to Uber: Enough with the emails already

Cab companies push back on Uber/Lyft

Posted on February 27, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The first Council action on updating the taxi and limo codes to accommodate Uber and Lyft went about as you’d expect. Houston City Council members struggled Tuesday to strike a balance between ensuring paid rides in Houston are available to … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

More on the Lyft and Uber entrances

Posted on February 24, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a new day in Houston for people who need a ride. Brian Walts was out until about 3 a.m. Friday hitting the clubs, but he didn’t have a single drink or set foot on a dance floor. Rather, he … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

And here comes UberX

Posted on February 22, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

I mentioned this in passing yesterday, but UberX, which is Uber’s ride share service, similar in nature to that of Lyft, is now in Houston as well. Free rides suddenly became available in Houston on Thursday night as two online … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on And here comes UberX

Lyft gets set to lift off in Houston

Posted on February 21, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Another option for getting a ride. Prepare to see see pink-mustachioed cars roaming around the city as San Francisco-based car sharing company Lyft launches in Houston on Friday. Lyft is an app-based service that allows anyone to register as a … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Lyft gets set to lift off in Houston

Get ready for the taxis and Uber debate

Posted on February 3, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the first challenge for the new Council. City officials, armed with a new study showing weaknesses in the local system, are inching toward regulatory changes that would open Houston’s cab industry to new players, such as Uber, which enables … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Runoff 8 Day Finance Reports

Posted on December 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I did not get to looking at the 8 day finance reports for the November election – too many candidates, not enough time. But there was no reason I couldn’t take a gander at the 8 day reports for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2013 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Uber and insurance

Posted on September 18, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Fascinating. Shortly before midnight on a Tuesday night in March, a black Lincoln Town Car was heading south on Divisadero Street in San Francisco at the same time a Dodge Charger was approaching from the opposite direction. The accident that … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Uber and insurance

Uber in Dallas

Posted on September 4, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

A possible preview of things to come, courtesy of our neighbors to the north. Uber pulled into Dallas in one year ago, offering residents a ride with a few taps of an app. Drunk or stuck or just not sure … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Uber in Dallas

The Uber debate

Posted on September 3, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

In case you missed it over the weekend, the Chron’s op-ed pages featured a point/counterpoint on Uber and its push to enter the Houston market, which would require changes to various city ordinances. Here’s the pro-Uber piece: Imagine it’s Friday … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on The Uber debate

Chron for Uber

Posted on August 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron editorializes in favor of Council approving a change to city ordinances that would allow Uber to set up shop here. Uber, a car service software company, wants to start operating in Houston so that folks can reserve Town … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Uber writes to the city about its taxi demand study

Posted on July 25, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

You can see the letter here. They make two basic points: One, the $70 minimum fare for private car trips “serves neither the driver community nor the riding public, and should be eliminated as a matter of public interest regardless … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Uber

Posted on July 23, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Mark me in favor of this. A smartphone app could be the subject of the year’s most spirited regulatory battle at City Hall, as lobbyists line up for a fight that pits taxicab companies against a car-service technology company called … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

REV Houston revisited

Posted on August 3, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

REV Houston is back in the news. The drivers of Rev Houston’s green-and-white shuttles zip through downtown picking up and dropping off passengers for tips. Here’s a tip from city officials: Follow the rules. To Rev Houston owner Erik Ibarra, … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment