NYC Uber & Lyft Drivers Applaud Mayor's Announcement, But Raise Concerns about Affordability, Infrastructure for Green Rides Initiative
7d53e2588924466987bca15bc8718926.png NYC Uber & Lyft Drivers Applaud New EV Licenses, But Raise Concerns about Affordability, Infrastructure for Mayor’s Green Rides Initiative Drivers Guild Calls for Green Rides Task Force, City Study on Driver Impact New York, NY – This afternoon, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced that the city will open up Taxi and Limousine Commission licensing for electric vehicles beginning tomorrow morning. The announcement followed a NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission vote this morning to approve rules (https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUU3JBoyVC9DNMuBSgHMEVu883hTBx-2BckQiIOsHykMmDuVPNX40mc3NsetTr-2BWastfxKumwAjzCxNei8MHjOOZFxvI5BzVXly84EHF0Pqkx4UgVRAOQAFqAgoq9QCDNqWNb4jBgJy7VaA4YhC9jhZvK0-3D1Rtc_kfytytOqXJMoRhb2oyNeM-2FcljueGrqKFILtw-2BUtBDCZc-2B7jSduJFzsW9AulIlN6LstdX7xxdwiKAV3YjflfpWd8vpzrFOJS-2Bova89IXRnPczW3Dyj3QpaQbKwQ8Lcbv3nflIte-2BtQtlBNss-2FmD-2F6gOxxYfROR-2BsdNDiGeh7J4KuoppbeD0i2-2FIZ9apk-2BOWxFQc-2BhGitZSY04PyeEhw7mW78NSVyEeoYJgvy6u3W9dHHbbDnYLU7c-2BGfUDIoWQaAaR6c7QTJjFSJLYJx7lucghovVbinlTNplOZGUZ-2F-2B6JUz63WprqNV4B2aDMd1kJ89oy1EhqpGoEKTWFxcAIZ8aS9sk7a2agt5uMoKj3I9dZ78-3D mandating that all New York City Uber and Lyft drivers transition to electric or wheelchair accessible vehicles by 2030. Despite promises from Mayor Eric Adams that the city’s more than 80,000 hardworking Uber and Lyft drivers would not bear the cost of this transition, the rules passed by the TLC today did not include protections for drivers. The Independent Drivers Guild, the nation's largest rideshare driver advocacy organization, is pleased the city is resuming electric vehicle licensing, which the Guild has long advocated for. To ensure a successful Green Rides transition, the Guild is also calling on Mayor Adams to: · Immediately establish an interagency Green Rides Task Force with driver representatives · Order a study on driver impact, including affordability and infrastructure needs. “We are pleased that Mayor Adams and Commissioner Do are opening up electric vehicle licenses, providing a desperately needed path to ownership for the city’s for-hire vehicle drivers as part of the mayor’s Green Rides initiative. However, we continue to have concerns over affordability and feasibility for drivers. We all support a cleaner future for New York, but it cannot be funded on the backs of our city’s hardworking Uber and Lyft drivers. Before any mandates on Uber and Lyft drivers take effect, the city must ensure that there are enough charging stations with restrooms throughout the five boroughs – and that there will be no added costs for drivers, as the Mayor promised (https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUQ9cAa-2BpH0UxD3bcTaiOxUVyTE5-2F4S-2Bl6UgW1kzTBPiOYa9scJGu805efVLxSWF39eXC5txS9-2BD-2FIGub5Vp4ofMqQnSCsxEoYEMnvmYRvxhOqqs6Szw9sqqgiuMln9gcnzBI0-2F8xz5R73G6vMT2jp6p7gPfet8DHeQkNi0KIxPN52101_kfytytOqXJMoRhb2oyNeM-2FcljueGrqKFILtw-2BUtBDCZc-2B7jSduJFzsW9AulIlN6LstdX7xxdwiKAV3YjflfpWd8vpzrFOJS-2Bova89IXRnPczW3Dyj3QpaQbKwQ8Lcbv3nflIte-2BtQtlBNss-2FmD-2F6gOxxYfROR-2BsdNDiGeh7J4KuoppbeD0i2-2FIZ9apk-2BOWxFQc-2BhGitZSY04PyeEhw7mW6uIlvaLGpF7Ug-2BpsHj8l9wAuAekRNbL7abjokHEh3vxHaKMyjlEO0nTWks5ABnuF7QdFC9bzPfAfWR6vrg-2Bh84VIuo0BJ5PnusfDj9x7SWTCO8lG016M2hoaV-2FH7dOoanmN88Rc7AIH-2Bp3fNs52qic-3D ,�?? said Brendan Sexton, President of the Independent Drivers Guild, a Machinists Union affiliate representing the city’s more than 80,000 Uber and Lyft drivers. In prior hearings before the TLC, the Guild had urged the Commission to resume licensing of electric vehicles to for-hire vehicle drivers to open a path to ownership for drivers who are currently stuck renting or leasing vehicles. The Guild had also urged that the city rules require that certain milestones for infrastructure and affordability be achieved before the mandate on Uber and Lyft drivers could go into effect. The TLC rules passed today did not build in those protections. “Making the mayor’s Green Rides vision a reality will be a Herculean effort, and the city’s Uber and Lyft drivers need a seat at the table to ensure a successful and equitable transition,�?? added Sexton. “More than 80,000 New Yorkers make their living as Uber and Lyft drivers and will be deeply affected by this transition. Establishing an interagency taskforce that includes drivers will be critical. From charging logistics and restroom access to affordability and enforcement, there are many challenges ahead and the drivers must be part of that planning. We are also urging the mayor to order a study on affordability, feasibility and accessibility for drivers. Mayor Adams pledged there would be no new costs for individual Uber and Lyft drivers and an economic impact study is the best way to achieve that by looking at factors like the cost for qualifying vehicles, maintenance, parts, driver time spent waiting on charging vehicles, and the supply of qualifying vehicles.�?? See the Drivers Guild's recent testimony below. 9/20/23 testimony: https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUWuVmnG4P7cdxVQf4vOYjZcLNftLmihjx5raRpBLhzQtKgSXYorIy6R9Uko1oT21xGxp84-2BGZMlp5et4sQmnwqc-3DG4pP_kfytytOqXJMoRhb2oyNeM-2FcljueGrqKFILtw-2BUtBDCZc-2B7jSduJFzsW9AulIlN6LstdX7xxdwiKAV3YjflfpWd8vpzrFOJS-2Bova89IXRnPczW3Dyj3QpaQbKwQ8Lcbv3nflIte-2BtQtlBNss-2FmD-2F6gOxxYfROR-2BsdNDiGeh7J4KuoppbeD0i2-2FIZ9apk-2BOWxFQc-2BhGitZSY04PyeEhw7mW3UV5WZ5fzfdlSruQvQjS8xKLULk15lGDNplZ5tvkxJjYuJAz7UGaQ4wmEBKBBOxKmY9We0K8F3JDbpd7xmSYR1snbzkTejqwlRcKpSGV9uYbJWDmVAaNjyysfW3WiGnUyQSlBtAoLUaLi3UniZQNwc-3D 1/11/23 testimony https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUWuVmnG4P7cdxVQf4vOYjZdCnIs-2BoKXWAklYdi0CrxPH4YZb8PbZ-2BDRge-2FbWpgywRcy55B2A8e3R-2B7PtHgaDSGZUhvgG6xvEhI6awVoIyDRHGfkB_kfytytOqXJMoRhb2oyNeM-2FcljueGrqKFILtw-2BUtBDCZc-2B7jSduJFzsW9AulIlN6LstdX7xxdwiKAV3YjflfpWd8vpzrFOJS-2Bova89IXRnPczW3Dyj3QpaQbKwQ8Lcbv3nflIte-2BtQtlBNss-2FmD-2F6gOxxYfROR-2BsdNDiGeh7J4KuoppbeD0i2-2FIZ9apk-2BOWxFQc-2BhGitZSY04PyeEhw7mWyT2xDK-2F0P8z0RTgj-2BRx3UsdLW0nhktGIdwwd7a073Fxj9Ej-2BeVJjSe9LGbI97J5pK-2FsRAdw7sKPxtZ1hRTMdp40b8Yaj0KcSb8EMrS7wStushi-2F-2FlKtDC2pe9VMlaWo7kzgpNru74dIeaHX0H2g6Ro-3D The Independent Drivers Guild is the nation’s largest rideshare driver advocacy group that represents and advocates for more than 300,000 drivers across NY, NJ, CT, MA , IL and FL. The Guild's organizing has secured landmark victories that put billions of dollars in the pockets of drivers, including requiring a tipping option in the Uber app (https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUWlLoR6oChTIzZMJnAix5VLkA-2FRlrWKUY3nD7E5uVhemTEbQVM2ZxOG7oK8nJ0tQy72rtMBHF3o2zoFTn-2F3-2BhRMUq2FdqsswnSftUGUwkjXKY7tBMegoRhq9kfk3B0XKFYorh8Zi6OBY-2FFY-2BlaFZ5Rk-3DSggL_kfytytOqXJMoRhb2oyNeM-2FcljueGrqKFILtw-2BUtBDCZc-2B7jSduJFzsW9AulIlN6LstdX7xxdwiKAV3YjflfpWd8vpzrFOJS-2Bova89IXRnPczW3Dyj3QpaQbKwQ8Lcbv3nflIte-2BtQtlBNss-2FmD-2F6gOxxYfROR-2BsdNDiGeh7J4KuoppbeD0i2-2FIZ9apk-2BOWxFQc-2BhGitZSY04PyeEhw7mW0nMZQrIdYb4qkw0-2F3t74196ePYSFhLfOZGSm7TEsoJbJM7CipLPAyHat9knYNm6OzQ-2FW8v5s0jPXoKUQTyx3MA-2F5l03ygiHX0PkTbd5y5qlBA1rIqxqJMLz5NZiHaWAMM1QCs-2FOaBb2ok8PErHUtPo-3D and winning the nation's first livable minimum wage for rideshare drivers (https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUWPDLhc9hZhcpNs-2FhR1CFvb7e6GGXNwxwikg6coZyQw-2FQw7B-2FRYJ1AsUHYh-2BmSzHFobQ89jwv9mYaEcO0uE4ZoY-2Bp5lGlHiV0ojity56pNxfjMVaAgq5EPLtjblM3m4gGe3Gq9irwdM3zWIKf-2BTFZ4asYKrwv2u8-2B8jqcvfVHm0YBjdo0gP5aY5ukddY16gemAO3kw9rGoM0mwg0a0RCAif9phpX-2FLcLc8ujIC7lZr9HvdUuOMdCxaB1J3aOYtazdOPY0r97lOr0wznpftYyrRjJK9AZmkF2MOPUcoT-2FWzFlMorTrsHyjqUPhwnf1O-2B66Tm03k5wXevWEtrK63cRm-2FFUYoXj4Pa0WY8eK91XlmV3kRkiedQvXmSc4yQ1EaizoL0-2FwzS7y-2BZW3BPxwyzeU1IT1As2cuWteL85epZt1-2FigjVjH_kfytytOqXJMoRhb2oyNeM-2FcljueGrqKFILtw-2BUtBDCZc-2B7jSduJFzsW9AulIlN6LstdX7xxdwiKAV3YjflfpWd8vpzrFOJS-2Bova89IXRnPczW3Dyj3QpaQbKwQ8Lcbv3nflIte-2BtQtlBNss-2FmD-2F6gOxxYfROR-2BsdNDiGeh7J4KuoppbeD0i2-2FIZ9apk-2BOWxFQc-2BhGitZSY04PyeEhw7mW-2BShMBsKF3UDIitaMGg7dLTN9bIj6g1lnmCjlyXAcBcFXgG7U9QBZ1ifP3LwMu93nVlce-2FvI-2F204XPlxn4NHwQjxySEx2DqTwdYvWfJqGCFzidyhHL-2F5Cr2vj-2B-2BDRWXxYvh-2BWzoMpyO-2FL3C-2FSjquf0M-3D in New York City. The Drivers Guild is a non-profit worker center affiliated with the Machinists Union, an AFL-CIO member union, which has represented for-hire vehicle drivers for more than twenty years. Media contact: Moira@drivingguild.org ______________________ If you would rather not receive future communications from Independent Drivers Guild, please go to https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=7XxYNtcOU9m7QqE2JHU8Deg7w9snG-2FG7IHnVhLnrvqronK4srFO0Dz3r4ccba2KEePC-2FeS8j2HfvAhlWHAwnWu7no4Sdg8Ud1dBgxIcbeEI1qolrx6AofRBPry1-2BJyT2seS5WygNtDHHeIs-2FDbYsX0W4DzYUrS9r09NH7VJNs2LyOrGgFgINkznz8bvmszHVEYzn_kfytytOqXJMoRhb2oyNeM-2FcljueGrqKFILtw-2BUtBDCZc-2B7jSduJFzsW9AulIlN6LstdX7xxdwiKAV3YjflfpWd8vpzrFOJS-2Bova89IXRnPczW3Dyj3QpaQbKwQ8Lcbv3nflIte-2BtQtlBNss-2FmD-2F6gOxxYfROR-2BsdNDiGeh7J4KuoppbeD0i2-2FIZ9apk-2BOWxFQc-2BhGitZSY04PyeEhw7mW32un6lu-2FiEG2ILyaxfL0V40D5C-2F9EbKSoQC6M9BnSiG8k9AhKZt8s4sIQOZgn-2FHa03nYjKZSqJ-2BBwFghwEJrEplGoH-2Fng-2Bk1nHPTbDUDlz6F9FHD-2B4knoX-2FNgIR1NoCcU6iVHoCVN74IiBl9W9x5o8-3D Independent Drivers Guild, 41-09 36th St #3, Queens, NY 11101 United States