Latest Sharing Economy Headlines

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

Uber Launches Ridesharing Operations in Montana City

Aug 8 2016 // Residents of Billings, Mont. have a new way to catch a ride as Uber has launched in the city.The Billings Gazette reported that Billings Mayor Tom Hanel took the service’s ceremonial first ride last week to celebrate...

Airbnb Sues Southern California City over Short-term Rental Law

Aug 8 2016 // Airbnb is suing the city of Anaheim over a law that regulates short-term rentals.The suit filed in late July argues the city violates free-speech rights and federal law by holding Airbnb responsible when users post...

Boston Police Chief Disappointed Ridesharing Bill Lacks Driver Fingerprinting

Aug 3 2016 // Boston Police Commissioner William Evans is faulting Massachusetts lawmakers for failing to require the fingerprinting of drivers for ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft.The House and Senate approved regulations...

Airbnb Sues Southern California City over Short-term Rental Law

Aug 1 2016 // Airbnb is suing the city of Anaheim over a law that regulates short-term rentals.The Orange County Register reported the suit argues the city violates free-speech rights and federal law by holding Airbnb responsible when...

Uber Insists If Arbitration Pact Is Nixed, $100M Driver Settlement Is Dead

Aug 1 2016 // Uber Technologies Inc.’s message to the judge who must approve its $100 million settlement with drivers is clear: take it or leave it.In an escalating game of courtroom brinkmanship, Uber has hit what may be an...

Judge Denies Uber Bid to Enforce Arbitration in Consumer Suit

Aug 1 2016 // Uber Technologies Inc. can’t require a Connecticut customer accusing the company of price-fixing to resolve the fight in arbitration, a federal judge ruled in one of several cases challenging the ride-hailing...

Judge Hits Uber’s Background Check on Passenger Bringing Price-Fixing Suit

Jul 26 2016 // A federal judge on Monday banned Uber Technologies Inc. and its Chief Executive Travis Kalanick from using information from a background check on a passenger bringing a price-fixing lawsuit, saying the investigative firm...

Uber Cleared to Offer Rides in West Virginia

Jul 21 2016 // Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin and U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin introduced Uber to West Virginia by hailing the state’s first ride.After an Uber trip from Capitol Market in Charleston to the state Capitol, Manchin and Tomblin...

Washington Judge Hears Challenge to Law Enabling Uber, Lyft to Unionize

Jul 20 2016 // A U.S. judge on Tuesday wrestled with whether a lawsuit could proceed against the city of Seattle, Wash. over a local law which allows Uber and Lyft drivers to unionize.The litigation is unfolding amid a national debate...

Drivers Take Uber to UK Tribunal in Test Case that Could Threaten Business Model

Jul 19 2016 // Two drivers took Uber to a British employment tribunal on Tuesday, arguing that the ride service is acting unlawfully by not offering rights such as holiday and sick pay, in a test case that could force the app to change...

Florida Uber Driver Arrested for Refusing Ride to Blind Man, Service Dog

Jul 12 2016 // An Uber driver in Florida was arrested after deputies say he refused to transport a group of blind people and their service dogs.According to news outlets, citing an arrest report, 60-year-old Simon Pierre Andre Nau was...

New Hampshire, Rhode Island Approve Ridesharing Laws

Jul 11 2016 // A state law requiring criminal background checks on drivers of ride-hailing companies took effect last month in New Hampshire with Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan’s signature.The law also requires ridesharing companies...

Judge in California Approves Lyft’s $27M Driver Settlement Deal

Jul 11 2016 // A U.S. judge granted preliminary approval to ride service Lyft’s $27 million settlement of a class action lawsuit brought by California drivers who claimed they should be deemed employees instead of independent...

Aon Offers Cover for Ontario Uber Drivers, Using Online Quoting Tool

Jul 8 2016 // Aon Risk Solutions, the global risk management business of Aon plc, announced it is now offering personal ride-sharing insurance policies designed specifically for Ontario Uber drivers.As Uber’s insurance broker, Aon...

California Insurers Group Hopes Governor Signs Airbnb Bill

Jul 8 2016 // Another bill dealing with the sharing economy is headed to the California governor’s desk.A bill to ensure homeowners and renters offering rooms for rent on hosting platforms like Airbnb and Home Away understand what...

Massachusetts Ridesharing Bill Moves into Final Stretch

Jul 1 2016 // Transportation network companies like Uber and Lyft would be legally sanctioned to operate in Massachusetts, under a set of mostly reasonable regulation, under legislation approved this week in a 34-2 vote of the state...

PCI Urges California Governor to Sign Insurance Bill on the Sharing Economy

Jul 1 2016 // The Property Casualty Association is urging California’s governor to sign a bill approved by the Legislature to ensure homeowners and renters offering rooms for rent on hosting platforms like Airbnb and Home Away...

Uber Using Software to Track Drivers’ Behavior

Jun 30 2016 // Using smartphone sensors to peek over its drivers’ shoulders, Uber is promising to keep a closer eye on their behavior — while discouraging speeding or slamming on the brakes.The global ride-hailing company on...

Judge in California Approves Lyft’s $27M Driver Settlement Deal

Jun 27 2016 // A U.S. judge granted preliminary approval to ride service Lyft’s $27 million settlement of a class action lawsuit brought by California drivers who claimed they should be deemed employees instead of independent...

New Hampshire Ridesharing Law Goes Into Effect

Jun 27 2016 // A state law requiring criminal background checks on drivers of ride-hailing companies took effect this week with Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan’s signature.The law also requires ride-hailing companies like Uber and...