Were you ever asked to add more to the actual fare, such as in taxis, because the driver says it’s been a congested ride? Apparently, ridesharing platforms like Uber have also resorted to this.
But here’s the catch. Passengers are not at the front of the line to shoulder the fees, but the drivers. And those drivers are holding a rally demanding an investigation into the unjust “congestion fee.” Ridesharing Forum has more.
Asking for investigation
Rideshare drivers in Chicago held a rally outside the City Council on Wednesday, calling for an investigation after Uber overcharged riders at the expense of drivers.
Led by 50th Ward Alderwoman Debra Silverstein from the Illinois Drivers Alliance and the Chicago Gig Alliance Debra Silverstein, those rideshare drivers are demanding hearings on the “unauthorized” $1.50 “traffic congestion fee” of Uber charged to riders and drivers without the consent or oversight of the city.
In the new policy, rideshare companies like Uber are allowed to charge a $1.50 surcharge for all rides to and from downtown from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. or during rush hour.
What’s worse, this policy also encountered errors last January when customers were mistakenly charged after 10 p.m.
Companies reassured, however, “We are actively identifying all affected customers and will issue refunds accordingly.”
The rallyists say rideshare drivers were “never notified about the fee and were left to deal with upset passengers.”
“No company should be allowed to operate in the City of Chicago without transparency and accountability,” Silverstein said in her statement. “The unauthorized surcharge imposed by Uber, without the City’s approval or public disclosure, demands answers.”
Is this part of government corruption? According to the reports, the city receives something from this amount, since the overcharges were paid to the city, which routinely collects the total congestion fees from Uber.
Scientific research
Traffic congestion is severe in Chicago. According to Fox News, Chicago is tied with New York with the worst traffic congestion in the United States. Statistics also reveal that Chicago is the fifth city in the world with the worst congestion on the roads. Average Chicagoans spend roughly 102 hours stuck in traffic over the previous years.
This road condition has reached scientists who researched the impacts of congestion pricing on ride-hailing rideship. So, there is a precedent.
The study concluded, “Congestion pricing of transportation network company services has become an emerging tool to cope with the negative externalities of TNCs.”
However, the effectiveness of this policy initiative has been understudied, the proponents of the study admitted.
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