Uber drivers, others crash Uber party for Pa. delegation
About 11 p.m. Monday, around 25 taxi drivers, Uber Black drivers and accessibility advocates put up a picket line around the DoubleTree Hotel in Center City where Uber was throwing a party for Pennsylvania delegates. In the end the delegates did not honor the picket line, and the party went on as planned.
About 11 p.m. Monday, around 25 taxi drivers, Uber Black drivers and accessibility advocates put up a picket line around the DoubleTree Hotel in Center City where Uber was throwing a party for Pennsylvania delegates. In the end the delegates did not honor the picket line, and the party went on as planned.
The protesters, who make up the Fair Ride Philly Coalition, were expressing their discontent with the city's handling and regulation of the ride service.
While hors d'oeuvres and beverages were passed around inside, on the street the protesters were shouting "$70 billion app, drivers get table scraps," "1-2-3-4 Uber keeps its drivers poor! 5-6-7-8 Uber you discriminate!" and similar sentiments.
Earlier this month, the Philadelphia Parking Authority struck a deal to legalize the low-cost UberX for the summer, citing the transportation demand the city would face during the DNC.
The move angered members of the coalition who fear the lack of regulation will cost business for drivers subject to PPA rules and fail to provide adequate accessible vehicles. They also objected to the recent dismissal of several Uber Black drivers who Uber says misled their location on the app at the airport to avoid waiting. Drivers at the protest said they received no warning and could not speak get a meeting with management.
Uber and the Philadelphia Parking Authority declined to comment on the protest.
- Lauren Feiner