Internets ride-share companies and City Hall have been arguing over this for at least two years and now the ordinance seems to be just about finalized.
Kansas City is soon set to enact a “Transportation Network Company Code” and here are just a few of the highlights we picked out:
Definition Of Terms: "Transportation network company or TNC means a corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, or other entity that uses a digital network to connect TNC riders to TNC drivers who provide prearranged rides. A TNC shall not be deemed to own, control, direct, operate, or manage the TNC vehicles or TNC drivers that connect to its digital network, except where agreed to by written contract."
Big Bucks To Operate: "(A TNC) Pays an annual license fee of seventy-five thousand dollars, which shall be prorated in accordance with this section, to the department. This annual fee shall cover all transportation network company drivers affiliated with the transportation network company, and no per driver or per vehicle fee shall be assessed."
Protection For Kansas City Cabs: "A TNC driver shall not solicit or accept street hails."
Uber has been fighting most of this regulation and it has been cumbersome enough to push Lyft out of Kansas City. However, moving forward it provides a framework for future transit companies and will most likely become quickly outdated as apps evolve and transit options working online become even more complex.
Developing . . .
And lest one forget – Uber burns through, not makes: $BILLIONS.
ReplyDelete^^^ +1
ReplyDeleteAlso rips off drivers.