Episodes

  • Remote Waymo Assistance, New York and Background Checks

    Remote Waymo Assistance, New York and Background Checks
    Feb 20 2026
    Waymo under fire for remote workers, New York kills robotaxis and Uber cranks up background checks. LegalRideshare breaks it down. WAYMO USES REMOTE ASSISTANCE WORKERS Waymo defends remote assistance on its cars. Reuters reported: Self-driving unit Waymo on Tuesday defended its use of remote assistance personnel in the face of questions from Congress and said they have never been used to move robotaxis in U.S. on-road operations. Waymo told Democratic Senator Ed Markey in a letter that it has not used remote driving or “tele-operations” to perform driving tasks. In rare circumstances, some U.S.-based personnel could prompt a stopped AV to move forward at 2 mph (3 kph) for a short distance to exit the travel lane but that has not happened outside of training. Markey and Republican Representative Buddy Carter have raised concerns about the use of remote personnel including some remote assistance personnel based in the Philippines. Waymo said its remote assistance personnel provide advice and support to Waymo robotaxis “but do not directly control, steer, or drive the vehicle.” Waymo operates four centers for remote assistance in Arizona, Michigan, and in two cities in the Philippines to support its fleet and at any given time, there are approximately 70 remote assistance agents, the company said. Only the Event Response Team, which manages responses to crashes or safety incidents and is based in the United States, could move a stopped vehicle. Markey said in a February 3 letter that Waymo had provided little public information about its policies around remote personnel, adding Congress and the public deserve assurance that the company's remote assistance operations will not endanger passengers, other road users, or national security. NEW YORK ROBOTAXI PLAN KILLED New York has pulled its robotaxi plan. Bloomberg reported: New York Governor Kathy Hochul has pulled a proposal that would have allowed for commercial robotaxi services outside New York City, a blow to Alphabet Inc.'s Waymo as it seeks to aggressively expand its driverless fleet this year. The proposal, which Hochul had included in her budget proposal last month, would have allowed autonomous-vehicle companies such as Waymo to apply for permission to pilot their services without human operators in the vehicle. The decision to withdraw the plan was confirmed Thursday by the governor's office to Bloomberg News. The move is a setback for Waymo, which is planning to hit more than 1 million paid weekly robotaxi rides in the US by the end of this year. The company has said it plans to expand across 20 cities in 2026 in the US and abroad, including in Dallas, San Antonio, Orlando, Nashville and London. Although Hochul's initial proposal excluded New York City, expanding in the rest of the state would have gotten Waymo a step closer to serving one of the biggest ride-hailing markets in the world. The New York Taxi Workers Alliance, which represents more than 20,000 rideshare and taxi drivers, celebrated the decision after earlier opposing the robotoxi plan on the grounds that it could replace some human workers. UBER ENACTS STRICTER BACKGROUND CHECKS Uber is enacting stricter background checks. The New York Times reported: Uber is taking steps to enact stricter background checks, after a New York Times investigation in December revealed that the ride-hailing giant's policies allowed for drivers with many types of criminal convictions, including violent felonies. The company had barred drivers convicted of murder, sexual assault, kidnapping and terrorism. But in 22 states, The Times found, the company had approved people convicted of most other crimes — including violent felonies, child abuse, assault and stalking — so long as the convictions were at least seven years old. Now, Uber is preparing to change those policies to bar people convicted of violent felonies, sexual offenses, and child or elder abuse and endangerment from driving for Uber, regardless of when those crimes occurred, according to people briefed on the matter. It is unclear when and how the changes will go into effect. The company also is considering changing its policies for other offenses, including harassment, restraining order violations and weapons charges, which are generally allowed if the convictions are more than seven years old. LegalRideshare is the first law firm in the United States to focus exclusively on Uber®, Lyft®, robotaxis, Waymo, and gig worker accidents and injuries. Consultations are always free.
    Show More Show Less
    17 mins
  • Robotaxi Opportunity, Uber Insurance and Unlicensed E-hail App.

    Robotaxi Opportunity, Uber Insurance and Unlicensed E-hail App.
    Feb 12 2026
    Uber is positive on robotaxis, Florida reduces insurance and a new e-hail app. LegalRideshare breaks it down. UBER SEES OPPORTUNITY IN ROBOTAXIS Uber sees light at the end of the tunnel for robotaxis. Axios reported: Uber's superpower, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi argues, is the efficiency of its global network — something standalone AV companies lack. He's positioning Uber as an “indispensable demand layer,” Brulte notes, with the company hoping to become the world's largest facilitator of AV trips by 2029. “AVs fundamentally amplify the strengths of our platform,” Khosrowshahi told investors: “global scale, deep demand density, sophisticated marketplace technology, and decades of experience matching riders, drivers and vehicles, all in real time,” he said. The intrigue: Early data suggests Uber's ride-hailing demand is expanding, not shrinking, in cities where AVs operate, Khosrowshahi said — even in places where they're not yet available on Uber's network. FLORIDA REDUCES INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS Florida is looking to reduce insurance. Tampa Bay Times reported: Currently, the company has to have liability coverage of at least $1 million for death, bodily injury and property damage for all periods of a ride. The bill would reduce the required coverage to $50,000 when a ride is accepted. When a passenger is in the vehicle, it would go back to $1 million. Bill sponsor Sen. Nick DiCeglie, a St. Petersburg Republican, said he's heard concerns about needing higher insurance if a driver was speeding to a ride. But he's said he's not seen any evidence showing that's common. “It's a cost savings, and at the end of the day, that's going to always benefit the employee and ultimately the consumer,” DiCeglie said. Representatives from Lyft's primary competitor, Uber, said the company isn't lobbying either way on the legislation. Under legislation passed that year, rideshare companies would be regulated as technology companies with independent contractors instead of as taxi companies. And the deal included requiring the higher insurance limits for all stages of a ride. UNLICENSED E-HAIL APP CHALLENGES UBER An unlicensed e-hail app is challenging Uber. Gothamist reported: The company, called Empower, markets itself as a pro-worker platform where drivers pay a $50 monthly fee to use the app. The driver can take home 100% of their fare, which they set themselves. The system leads to cheaper rides for passengers and higher wages for drivers, the company claims. But Empower is facilitating those rides over the objection of the city Taxi and Limousine Commission, which set up a dedicated website warning New Yorkers not to use the app. In order for an app-based ride to be legal in the five boroughs, the platform must register for a “base” with the TLC — a facility where cars are dispatched to passengers and operated by the company. Empower doesn't have one. The company is supposed to pay a $1,500 application fee to secure the base, and insure each of its vehicles. Sear said thousands of drivers provide “tens of thousands” of rides in the city through Empower each week. That's a drop in the bucket compared to the 88,000 drivers providing more than 4 million rides a week for Uber and Lyft, but Sear says the app giants have taken notice. “I've spoken with board members of Uber,” said Sear. “ This is an existential threat to their business, and they are going to do everything in their power, bribe every official they can, influence anyone, pull every lever they can to stop drivers from working for themselves. Uber did not respond to a request for comment on Sear's claims. Empower is in ongoing civil litigation with municipal regulators in Washington, D.C., who took issue with the company's launch in the district without approval. A judge ruled the company and Sear be held in contempt of court after they kept offering rides. Court documents show that Empower is appealing that contempt order. LegalRideshare is the first law firm in the United States to focus exclusively on Uber®, Lyft®, robotaxis, Waymo, and gig worker accidents and injuries. Consultations are always free.
    Show More Show Less
    19 mins
  • What Drivers Do WRONG After Accidents

    What Drivers Do WRONG After Accidents
    Jan 23 2026

    What happens when you get into an accident with a passenger in the car? In this special clip, LegalRideshare teams up with @AskTorsten (The Rideshare Professor) to tackle the toughest parts of the job: crash liability, passenger injuries, and how to protect yourself when things go wrong on the road. We discuss: Immediate steps to take after a rideshare accident. How to handle passengers who are injured or difficult. The truth about Uber/Lyft insurance coverage. Have you been injured in a rideshare accident? Don't fight the insurance companies alone. Call us: (312) 767-7950 Visit us: https://www.legalrideshare.com Email: help@legalrideshare.com ---------- LegalRideshare is the first law firm in the United States to focus exclusively on Uber®, Lyft®, robotaxis, Waymo, and gig worker accidents and injuries. Consultations are always free.
    Show More Show Less
    34 mins
  • Drivers Lose $550 Million? + Waymo Protests Erupt

    Drivers Lose $550 Million? + Waymo Protests Erupt
    Jan 16 2026

    In this week's episode, we cover a devastating financial blow to the driver community involving a massive $550 million loss. Plus, tensions boil over as human drivers officially begin protesting Waymo robotaxis, and Uber heads to court for a high-stakes trial. LegalRideshare breaks down what these stories mean for your wallet and your job security. ------ Have you been injured in a rideshare or robotaxi accident? Don't fight the insurance companies alone. Call us: (312) 767-7950 Visit us: https://www.legalrideshare.com Email: help@legalrideshare.com ------ LegalRideshare is the first law firm in the United States to focus exclusively on Uber®, Lyft®, robotaxis, Waymo, and gig worker accidents and injuries. Consultations are always free.
    Show More Show Less
    17 mins
  • Male Discrimination, Waymo on Highways and "Send A Ride".

    Male Discrimination, Waymo on Highways and "Send A Ride".
    Nov 14 2025
    Male drivers sue, Waymo hits the highways and Uber sends rides. LegalRideshare breaks it down. MALE DRIVERS SUE UBER/LYFT FOR DISCRIMINATION Male drivers are suing Uber & Lyft over discrimination. Time reported: Male drivers for Uber and Lyft are suing the companies over a feature that lets users hail only women drivers. The dual class action suits allege that the functions — which followed thousands of sexual harassment and assault lawsuits against Uber and Lyft over the years — have limited the economic opportunities for men and discriminated against them because of their gender. Lawyers acting for the plaintiffs argue that male drivers “are discriminated against and receive fewer and different rides than they otherwise would absent the policy.” They contend that the policy “reinforces the gender stereotype that men are more dangerous than women.” California has some of the nation's strongest anti-discrimination laws. The lawsuit accuses both Uber and Lyft of violating the Unruh Act, a California civil rights law that “expressly prohibits sex discrimination by business enterprises.” They are seeking $4,000 in damages per male driver in California for violating state law. WAYMO ON HIGHWAYS Waymo hits the highways. Bloomberg reported: Waymo will become the first robotaxi provider in the US to offer driverless rides on highways, a milestone that positions it to better compete with ride-hailing companies and traditional taxi services. Beginning Wednesday, the Alphabet Inc. unit will begin offering some riders routes that include freeways in San Francisco, Phoenix and Los Angeles, it said in a statement. Freeway service will be available 24 hours a day. Users who have opted in to Waymo's new services and features will be the first to be able to try this kind of trip. Waymo's US rivals are also testing highway driving and in some cases charging customers, but until now the presence of a human in the car was a given. Tesla Inc. recently launched its self-driving cab services in Austin, where it offers some highway rides, with a safety monitor in the driver seat for those kinds of routes. (It also has human monitors present for non-highway rides, but they sit in the passenger seat in those cases.) Separately, the Elon Musk-led company is testing a purpose-built self-driving “Cybercab,” which Musk said will go into production in April. UBER MAKES IT EASIER TO SEND A RIDE Uber is adding new features. The Verge reported: The new “Send a Ride” feature allows you to pay for someone else's Uber ride directly from the app. You set the number of rides and spending limit, then send a link to whoever you want to gift the rides to. Additionally, John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and Orlando International Airport are now available for Uber Share, which discounts your Uber fare when you share your ride with someone heading in the same direction. The update arrives as airports are still experiencing disruptions that could carry on for a while, even now that the government shutdown has ended. Another new feature, Uber Ski, makes it easier to reserve an UberXL or UberXXL directly to nearly 40 top ski locations around North America and Europe, and allows you to purchase “Epic” ski and snowboard passes at the same time. Lastly, Uber Eats is getting a Cameo-like feature for the holiday season that will let you add a celebrity video message to gifted Uber Eats orders, including the likes of Megan Thee Stallion, the Jonas Brothers, Jake Shane, and Tracee Ellis Ross. LegalRideshare is the first law firm in the United States to focus exclusively on Uber®, Lyft®, robotaxis, Waymo, and gig worker accidents and injuries. Consultations are always free.
    Show More Show Less
    19 mins
  • Robotaxis, Robotaxis, and Robotaxis

    Robotaxis, Robotaxis, and Robotaxis
    Nov 7 2025
    Boston clamps down on robotaxis, Uber takes on Waymo and gig workers get a new gig. LegalRideshare breaks it down. BOSTON VS. DRIVERLESS TAXIS Boston is putting the breaks on driverless taxis. Bloomberg reported: Boston city councilors are proposing an ordinance that would require Alphabet Inc.'s Waymo and other autonomous ride-share services to have a human operator present in the vehicle. The legislation would mandate a study on the technology's effects on the employment of current ride-share drivers and prohibit self-driving cars from operating in Boston until that's been completed and other permitting requirements are established. Even then, the cars wouldn't be allowed to operate unless a human safety operator is inside the vehicle and able to intervene, according to the proposed ordinance. The restrictions are up for possible action at a meeting on Wednesday, though councilors said there are likely to be more hearings on the legislation before it comes to a full vote. Typically, proposals from city councilors that advance must pass through committee and then receive public hearings before the mayor signs off. The exact language of Boston's restrictions on autonomous vehicles could change substantially before anything becomes law. Boston has been something of a hotbed for autonomous vehicle development. Hyundai Motor Co.-backed Motional is headquartered in the city and has been testing on public roads there since 2016. Boston is also among the cities where Waymo, which is widely considered to be the leader in the space, has been doing mapping and testing work as the company looks to expand service to new US cities. Ethan Teicher, a spokesperson for Waymo, said in a post on X that the proposal would make Boston the “first major city in the world to ban fully autonomous vehicles based entirely on vibes,” adding that the company's vehicles improve safety. A local Teamsters chapter and other labor unions have protested the rollout of autonomous ride-share services in Massachusetts. UBER VS WAYMO IN SF Uber is taking on Waymo in San Fran. Bloomberg reported: Uber Technologies Inc. is preparing to offer driverless rides on vehicles developed by Lucid Group Inc. and Nuro Inc. in the San Francisco Bay Area for the first time next year, thrusting the company into direct competition with Waymo's robotaxi service. Road testing of the vehicles — Lucid Gravity SUVs outfitted with Nuro's self-driving technology — is currently underway with drivers manually operating them, a Nuro spokesperson said. The first cars in the test fleet were delivered in September, and the number will grow to more than a hundred in the coming months, according to an Uber statement. The move is a step toward Uber challenging Alphabet Inc.'s Waymo, whose driverless taxis have become ubiquitous in San Francisco. The two companies currently work together to provide Waymo rides on the Uber app in Austin, Atlanta and Phoenix, but Waymo offers its own service in major urban markets like San Francisco and Los Angeles. Next year, Waymo will expand its service to Miami, London and Washington. Uber, meanwhile, has struck more than a dozen deals with robotaxi developers in the past year — a bet on a future where autonomous vehicles and human drivers complement each other on its platform. That push has included investing hundreds of millions of dollars in both Lucid and Nuro. NEW GIGS FOR GIG WORKERS\ Robotaxis could offer new gigs for gig workers. Business Insider reported: As self-driving cars become cheaper and more common, though, there could be a new opportunity for drivers in the world of robotaxis, said Jeremy Bird, Lyft's executive vice president of driver experience. “The hybrid world of that future might be that the driver is the owner of the vehicle that they are able to put on the platform,” Bird told Business Insider. Robotaxis could create other jobs as well, such as at the depots that maintain the vehicles, Bird said. The cars would need to be charged and serviced around the clock. Walter Strobel, who drives for Lyft in the Bay Area and previously ran his own delivery business, said that he would consider taking out a loan to buy vehicles that he could make available to Lyft for rides. LegalRideshare is the first law firm in the United States to focus exclusively on Uber®, Lyft®, robotaxis, Waymo, and gig worker accidents and injuries. Consultations are always free.
    Show More Show Less
    15 mins
  • Taxi Shutdown, Lyft Rewards and $4000

    Taxi Shutdown, Lyft Rewards and $4000
    Oct 24 2025

    Taxi drivers protest, Lyft tests loyalty and Uber pays $4000 to drivers. LegalRideshare breaks it down.

    TAXI DRIVERS “TOTAL SHUTDOWN”

    Taxis are preparing a total shutdown. Catalan News reported:

    Barcelona's taxi drivers are planning a “total shutdown” of the city on Tuesday night in protest against FC Barcelona's new partnership with Uber. Élite Taxi has condemned the club's sponsorship deal, which makes Uber an official partner of FC Barcelona. They call it an agreement with “criminals” who have built their business on “deregulation, labor exploitation, and tax evasion.” The union warned that further protests will follow future matches if the partnership is not canceled. LYFT LOYALTY REWARDS

    Lyft tests new loyalty rewards. Bloomberg reported:

    Lyft Inc. is piloting a program that offers some customers cash back on future rides, the latest effort to win over users from rival Uber Technologies Inc. The new program will let users earn as much as 5% cash back on rides if they opt to auto-reload their account with cash. Setting the auto-refill amount to $100 comes with other benefits like relaxed cancellation fees and free ride upgrades each month. The company is opening early access to the feature for riders in the Bay Area, as well as customers who have been using Lyft for at least 10 years. A company spokesperson said the program may roll out more broadly next year depending on feedback during this testing period. Launching a cash-back program is another way Lyft is trying to deepen loyalty from users who might have otherwise chosen Uber, which owns more than 70% of the US rideshare market. Uber has a similar feature called Uber Cash that allows users to pre-load funds for rides or to access ride credits from credit card promotions, but it does not have a rewards structure. UBER PAYS $4000 FOR DRIVERS TO GO EV

    Uber is paying drivers $4000 to go EV. The Verge reported:

    As it rushes to meet its pledge for “100 percent” of trips in electric vehicles by 2030, Uber is offering grants of $4,000 for drivers to swap their gas-guzzlers for zero-tailpipe emission vehicles. The company is also dropping its “Uber Green” branding in favor of the more simple “Uber Electric.” Uber has said it will be completely carbon neutral in North America and Europe by 2030 and in all global markets by 2040. But when it first announced this pledge in 2020, it said it wouldn't directly pay drivers to ditch their gas-burning vehicles in favor of EVs. Now, the company is reversing that decision in the hopes that direct payments can help accelerate EV adoption. Not every driver will be eligible for the grants, at least not initially. As part of Uber's new “Go Electric” program, drivers in New York City, California, Colorado, and Massachusetts can apply for $4,000 when they switch to a new or used EV. When combined with local incentives, like Massachusetts' MOR-EV and Colorado's Clean Fleet Program, EV prices can drop even further.

    LegalRideshare is the first law firm in the United States to focus exclusively on Uber®, Lyft®, robotaxis, Waymo, and gig worker accidents and injuries. Consultations are always free.
    Show More Show Less
    19 mins
  • Regulation, Waymo and Uber Tasks

    Regulation, Waymo and Uber Tasks
    Oct 17 2025
    Hong Kong regulates Uber, the future is Waymo and drivers earn extra cash. LegalRideshare breaks it down. HONG KONG REGULATES UBER After a decade, Hong Kong has finally regulated Uber. Bloomberg reported: Under new rules to take in effect next year, ride-hailing platforms, vehicles and drivers will need to obtain relevant licences and permits, according to a government statement. The regulation also strengthens penalties for the illegal carriage of paying passengers. The bill “will address the long-standing controversies surrounding such services and provide the public with more travel options that are safer and lawful,” Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said in a statement. Under the new rules, drivers will need to be at least 21 years old and have no serious traffic convictions within the past five years. Uber said it welcomed the government's move to formally regulate ride-sharing in Hong Kong. The bill will help integrate ride-sharing into the city's transport system and ensure riders and drivers alike benefit from clear rules, an Uber spokesperson said in an emailed statement. IS WAYMO THE FUTURE? Is Waymo the future? One reporter thinks so. Bloomberg reported: I've covered the car industry for 20 years, and I would hate to see our sports coupes and road trips disappear. The risks associated with relinquishing control over my mobility also give me pause. Or they did. I took a Waymo for the first time recently in Los Angeles and … I haven't stopped using it since. Rather than replace our cool cars, self-driving vehicles will, I predict, become a welcome complement to modern life, first as part of ride-sharing platforms and then as privately owned transport. Why? Because they offer an excellent solution for something nobody likes: commuting. If driving is heaven, commuting is hell. Not even the hardest-core drivers like it. So the question isn't whether self-driving will replace our favorite cars (I think not), but rather, will it remove the burden of our most mundane trips? And could it replace other ride-sharing platforms like Uber? I certainly hope so. Beyond Waymo, robo-taxis and -shuttles are also running in China, Singapore and the Middle East, and they're being tested across Europe. The vehicles are expected to become commercially available in the US at a large scale by 2030, according to the research firm McKinsey. But they're a long way from being ubiquitous. A world of self-driving cars will require billions of dollars of development, improved navigation systems, increased charging infrastructures and new regulations to amend traffic laws. Ford, General Motors and Volkswagen have all canceled autonomous taxi programs they once funded by the billions. (GM is planning to renew exploring autonomous cars for personal use, rather than as a robotaxi service.) Tesla's Robotaxis aren't open to the public. Given the company's proclivity for extensive delays, it's unclear when they will be. UBER OFFERS NEW WAYS TO MAKE MONEY Uber is offering new ways for drivers to make money. Bloomberg reported: A new job category called “digital tasks” will appear in the Uber driver app for some workers later this fall, offering existing registered drivers the opportunity to make a few bucks if they take on simple assignments that can be completed within minutes, according to the company. Those stints currently include uploading documents like restaurant menus, or recording audio samples of themselves narrating a scenario in various languages, said Chief Product Officer Sachin Kansal. More tasks will be added over time, he said, and the payout will vary based on the time commitment of each assignment. Uber is seeking to ride the wave of a growing appetite for bespoke datasets and labeling services that require human vetting to train AI models. Scale AI, which offers similar services, received more than $14 billion in investment from Meta Platforms Inc. earlier this year and is valued at more than $29 billion. Kansal said in an interview that the new digital tasks aren't meant as an answer to potential driver displacement from the increasing availability of autonomous vehicles, but as a way to keep attracting drivers to the app with more ways to earn. LegalRideshare is the first law firm in the United States to focus exclusively on Uber®, Lyft®, robotaxis, Waymo, and gig worker accidents and injuries. Consultations are always free.
    Show More Show Less
    21 mins