Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Los Angeles Targets Uber, Lyft, Sidecar, Orders Them To Leave

The City of Los Angeles--despite a successful, recent mayoral campaign focused on the city's tech-friendly new major---has just issued a cease and desist to Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar, three smartphone driven ride services who have been serving the area's high tech savvy residents.

According to letters from Thomas M. Drischler, taxicab administrator for the Los Angeles City Department of Transportation, all three services lack proper licenses to operate, and were ordered to "cease and desist" from operating in the city. Uber lets smartphone users summon a ride from their phone; Lyft helps users find a rideshare; and Sidecar lets users get rides from others in the city. Sidecar launched in LA in March; Lyft debuted its service in January, and Uber has been providing its private cars since last year.

Photo courtesy Bigstock.

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