Innovative transportation services such as car sharing, bike sharing, and transportation network companies like Uber and Lyft are changing mobility for millions of people, yet regulation of these services often varies greatly by geography and industry, says a report released Friday by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
Policymakers and regulators should craft consistent policies that encourage competition among new and traditional transportation services, such as taxis and limousines, in order to improve mobility, safety, and sustainability, the report says. The report was authored by a diverse group of academics and practitioners, chaired by Brian Taylor, director of the UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies at the Luskin School of Public Affairs.
The availability of on-demand transportation services through smartphone apps is increasing shared mobility. The growth in these services follows and amplifies a recent rebound in taxi and public transit use. As of June 2015, Uber provided more than 1 million rides daily worldwide, while Lyft operated in 60 U.S. cities with more than 100,000 drivers.
The rapidly expanding services, however, raise policy and regulatory challenges with regard to passenger and driver security, public safety, insurance requirements, employment and labor issues, and accessibility and equity. For more, see the press release at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs website.