Latest Sharing Economy Headlines

All the headlines from our Sharing Economy Topic Page, ordered by recency.

New Mexico Judge refuses to stop Uber, Lyft

Sep 29 2014 // A state judge has denied a request by New Mexico taxi cab and limousine companies for a temporary restraining order against the ridesharing services Lyft and Uber. District Court Judge Nancy Franchini wrote in her order...

San Francisco Prosecutor Issues Warning to Lyft, Uber, Sidecar

Sep 26 2014 // Lyft Inc., Uber Technologies Inc. and Sidecar Technologies Inc. were warned by San Francisco’s district attorney they would face legal action if the rideshare services don’t change their operations. According...

Oregon Commish Says ‘Sharing Economy’ Creates Insurance Challenges

Sep 24 2014 // Typical insurance policies won’t cover people participating in the “sharing economy” by renting out their home or using their car for a driving service, Oregon’s insurance commissioner is...

Alabama City Employs Sting Operation on Uber Drivers

Sep 19 2014 // Tuscaloosa, Alabama police are using undercover operations to nab drivers with the Uber ride-sharing service. Police said Wednesday a two-night sting last week resulted in a 50-year-old Mississippi woman getting tickets...

Uber Wins Reversal of Germany’s Ban on Ridesharing App for Now

Sep 16 2014 // Uber Technologies Inc. won the reversal of a nationwide ban in Germany of the company’s ride-hailing app after judges said a group of taxi dispatchers improperly used emergency procedures to obtain the initial court...

Report from California Agency Looks at Millennials, Baby Boomers

Sep 8 2014 // Millennials are driving a greater need for a more flexible auto insurance market, while Baby Boomers are proving new opportunities for independent agents, according to a study from a general agency headquartered in San...

Maryland’s Montgomery County Tells Uber to Follow Taxi Rules

Sep 8 2014 // Maryland’s Montgomery County officials want to know how Uber expanded its popular ride-sharing service into Bethesda without applying for county licenses. The Washington Post reports the county is demanding that Uber...

Kentucky Preparing Emergency Regulations for Rideshare Firms

Sep 5 2014 // Kentucky state regulators are preparing emergency regulations that will go into effect next month to govern ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft as they expand their services into Kentucky cities. The companies offer a...

Uber, Lyft, Legislature Give Nod to California Rideshare Bill

Aug 28 2014 // When Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla, D-Oakley, amended her measure to regulate transportation network companies, Uber, Lyft and others removed their opposition and are now supporting the bill. Assembly Bill 2293 was agreed to...

Uber Hires Obama Campaign Strategist; Expands Into Courier Service

Aug 20 2014 // Uber has enlisted David Plouffe, President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign manager, to devise and run its global political and branding strategy, as the fast-expanding car rides-on-demand startup runs into stiff...

Lyft Gets Temporary Approval to Operate in Pittsburgh

Aug 18 2014 // Ride-sharing company Lyft has satisfied insurance and other requirements to begin operating temporarily in the Pittsburgh area. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission last month gave conditional approval for Lyft and...

Berlin Bans Car Service Uber; Insurance Concerns Cited

Aug 18 2014 // Berlin has banned car service Uber, which allows users to summon a ride on their smartphone, for not offering drivers and vehicles licensed to carry passengers, or full insurance cover, the German capital said. The ban...

FAA Ruling Grounds AirPooler’s Uber-Style Sharing in Air Travel

Aug 15 2014 // The trend in sharing services popularized by Uber Technologies Inc. and Airbnb Inc. will take longer to gain a foothold in the world of aviation, if at all. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration reviewed its rules and...

Maryland Lawmaker: Legislation on Web-Based Ridesharing Likely

Aug 12 2014 // A Maryland lawmaker says the Legislature and not the state Public Service Commission should come up with policies to regulate Web-based ride-sharing services like Uber, after the PSC ruled this week that such companies...

Uber Begins Operating in Richmond, Virginia

Aug 12 2014 // The ridesharing company Uber is launching in Richmond, Virginia. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that the company began offering service in the city last Thursday. The move comes after Virginia decided to allow Uber...

N.Y. Uber Drivers Flock to Hamptons for Summer ‘Pop-Up’ Market

Aug 11 2014 // Like many New York City dwellers, Adam Cosentino’s summer ritual includes making the 100-mile trek to the beach towns of the Hamptons every weekend. The 43-year-old isn’t making the journey to play with the...

Maryland Panel Says Uber Subject to State Regulations

Aug 8 2014 // Maryland’s state body that oversees utilities and transportation in the state ruled Wednesday that a popular Web-based ridesharing service is subject to state regulation. The Public Service Commission ruled that Uber...

Uber, Lyft Given OK to Operate in Virginia

Aug 7 2014 // Virginia is allowing ridesharing companies Uber and Lyft to operate under a temporary agreement between the companies and the state, officials said Wednesday. The move follows letters from state officials in June telling...

Houston City Council OKS Rideshare Services, Uber and Lyft

Aug 7 2014 // The city council in Houston gave the green light to smartphone-enabled car ride services on, removing legal uncertainty around popular services including Uber and Lyft. Separately, the city council in Dallas reviewed rules...

Cease And Desist in New Mexico Continues for Lyft

Aug 1 2014 // State regulators have rejected a motion by ride-sharing service Lyft for a stay on a pending cease and desist order against the company. The Albuquerque Journal reported that the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission...