Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Yellow Cab & Flywheel Cap New Year’s Eve Rides at $10 | Yellow Cab Company of Sacramento

Yellow Cab & Flywheel Cap New Year’s Eve Rides at $10 | Yellow Cab Company of Sacramento: "In order to get the $10 maximum fare, customers must reserve and pay for their New Year’s Eve rides via Flywheel’s free, downloadable smartphone app, available at www.yellowcabsacramento.com/SurgeFreeNYE.
The $10 maximum fare offer is available anywhere in the Sacramento area from 8 p.m. on Dec. 31 through 3 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2015.
“We’re delighted to be able to offer our Yellow Cab customers two great bargains to celebrate the New Year,” said Victor Caballero, director of operations for Yellow Cab Company of Sacramento. “The peace of mind that they won’t have to pay more than $10 for a ride during one of the busiest traffic nights of the year, and the convenience of being able to book their ride through our new partner, Flywheel.”

Flywheel is offering its #SurgeFreeNYE $10 maximum fare on New Year’s Eve in San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego and Seattle, in addition to Sacramento. (Look for the hashtag #SurgeFreeNYE on social media for news and updates.)"

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Friday, December 26, 2014

ISIL hit with 31 air strikes in one day | Al Jazeera America

ISIL hit with 31 air strikes in one day | Al Jazeera America: "In Iraq, 15 U.S.-led air strikes hit near Al Asad, Sinjar, Mosul, Al Qaim, Baiji, Kirkuk and Tal Afar, destroying or damaging a rocket system, vehicles, tactical units and fighting positions, the statement said.

Days earlier, on December 18, another airstrike killed the ISIL-appointed governor of Mosul, an Iraqi city controlled by the fighter group. Kurdish fighters on the ground in Iraq seemed to have gained the advantage over ISIL this week, having recaptured several villages.

U.S. Central Command on Friday also released video of an air strike it had conducted within Syria on December 21. The footage shows what U.S. forces identified as "three ISIL buildings" being destroyed in an area near Aleppo, Syria.

Al Jazeera and Reuters"

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Pakistan kills school massacre 'facilitator' - Central & South Asia - Al Jazeera English

Pakistan kills school massacre 'facilitator' - Central & South Asia - Al Jazeera English: "Anti-terror measures

Meanwhile, a US drone strike on a Taliban compound in North Waziristan killed at least four fighters on Friday, officials said, the second such incident in a week.

Another drone strike in North Waziristan on December 20 killed at least five fighters, officials said.

The area is generally off-limits to journalists, making it difficult to independently verify the number and identity of the dead.

Washington pressed Islamabad for years to wipe out armed groups’ sanctuaries in North Waziristan, which have been used to launch attacks on NATO forces in Afghanistan.

The Pakistani military says it has killed more than 1,700 fighters so far in its heavy offensive in the tribal zone, with 126 soldiers having lost their lives.

Pakistan has ramped up its anti-terror strategy in the wake of the December 16 slaughter at an army-run school in Peshawar, where 134 children were among the victims gunned down by heavily-armed Taliban fighters.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has announced the establishment of military courts for terror-related cases in order to accelerate trials, and he has also lifted a six-year moratorium on the death penalty, reinstating it for terrorism-related cases.

Officials said Monday that Pakistan plans to execute around 500 fighters in the coming weeks."

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Local Governments Declare War On Uber, Lyft By ROBERT KROL

Viewpoint

Local Governments Declare War On Uber, Lyft

2 Comments

By ROBERT KROL

Posted 05:36 PM ET

Governments around the world have declared war on ride-sharing companies Uber, Lyft and Sidecar. Because they offer a more convenient and higher-quality service at lower cost, taxi companies lose business when ride-sharing companies enter a market. In San Francisco, taxi ridership has declined 65%.

In response to this competition, taxi companies have complained to city governments demanding that these new entrants be regulated.

They argue the new competition is unfair and unsafe for the users of ride-sharing services. City and state governments have responded to this lobbying pressure by initiating legal actions to slow the growth of ride-sharing.

This is not the first time governments have acted to block innovation in the transportation industry. Early in the 20th century, cities granted railroads a monopoly franchise and regulated the fares they could charge.

In exchange for the monopoly franchise, cities benefited because the railroad provided road maintenance services, funded street lighting, paid taxes, and were a source of political support for elected officials.

By 1914, some car owners started providing local transportation services at the same price as the city railroads. They were called jitneys. Jitneys travelled faster, followed more flexible routes than the rail system, and generally provided a higher quality trip. Much like today's ride-sharing users, the jitneys were popular with young city dwellers and business people (whose time is valuable).

This competition caused city railroad revenues to fall, leading to layoffs and the cancellation of some routes. Just like today, the railroads and their unions claimed the jitneys were unsafe and increased crime, requiring greater government regulation.

New regulations controlled the routes and schedules of the jitneys. They banned them from operating in the most densely populated (and profitable) parts of the city. They required the jitneys to purchase liability bonds and pay taxes greater than those paid by the railroads.

Within a year, 125 of the 175 cities where jitneys operated passed laws protecting railroads. By 1917, the jitney industry was destroyed.

This illustrates how incumbent businesses use the political system to protect their financial interests.

They claim that new businesses have an unfair advantage over existing companies. Politicians respond by shielding these businesses from the new competition in return for election support. When governments block innovation they constrain the very essence of progress in a market economy — creative destruction.

It is common for businesses to raise safety and crime issues as a justification for government regulation.

Total Transit launches 'fully-insured, legal' ride-share app in Arizona Uber Lyft

http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/blog/techflash/2014/12/total-transit-launches-fully-insured-legal-ride.html?page=all

Total Transit launches 'fully-insured, legal' ride-share app in Arizona

Dec 2, 2014, 1:12pm MST UPDATED: Dec 4, 2014, 2:40pm MST

View Photos

Hayley Ringle: Reporter-Phoenix Business Journal; Email | Twitter | LinkedIn | Google+

Glendale-based Total Transit Inc., the parent company of Discount Cab, is taking on ride-sharing companies Uber and Lyftby offering what it calls Arizona's "first and only fully-insured legal" ride share service app.

The Total Transit app allows riders to book a ride through personally owned and operated, fully commercially insured drivers who are experienced and have passed verified background checks, including drug and alcohol screenings, saidMike Pinckard, president of Total Transit.

"We believe in the concept of a driver using his own vehicle is a powerful innovation,"Pinckard said. "The issue is you have to do it legally."

San Francisco-based ride-sharing companies Uber and Lyft have been at odds with Total Transit and others in Arizona who claim the Silicon Valley startups do not properly insure their vehicles.

Uber and Lyft pushed to get a bill passed in the state Legislature that would have established insurance and regulatory rules amenable to their business models. Gov.Jan Brewer vetoed the bill last spring.

"We want to protect the public that is required by the law," Pinckard said. "UberX and Lyft, all we've been saying is simply insure your cars, and they've refused to do that."

However, a Lyft spokeswoman disputes the sentiment that the ride-sharing companies do not properly insure their vehicles. Lyft has a $1 million commercial liability insurance policy that is primary to a driver's personal policy, said Lyft spokeswoman Katie Dally, adding that the policy covers drivers from the moment they are matched with a passenger on the Lyft app.

"Lyft also provides uninsured and under-insured motorist coverage to protect community members, as well as additional contingent collision and liability coverage for drivers," Dally said in an email. "Lyft's insurance goes above and beyond what is required of Arizona taxis."

As of July, Uber said it holds a commercial insurance policy with $1 million of coverage per incident.

"We look forward to working with the incoming administration to create a permanent home for Uber's innovative ride-sharing model in Arizona," said Steve Thompson, Uber's Arizona general manager.

Total Transit developed its new app, which is available for iPhone and Android, with the help of GoFastCab, a San Diego-based software firm it acquired last year and now called 2PointB. Total Transit also operates in California, Texas and Colorado.

Total Transit's program allows drivers to use their personal vehicles to provide legal ride share services, Pinckard added.

"It gives us the ability to have a limitless supply of vehicles available," Pinckard said. "It improves our service quality to passengers and is far more efficient to access unlimited number of vehicles. The concept is truly innovative, that's why we introduced our own ride-sharing model."

The cost is also 15 to 20 percent less expensive to use ride-sharing vehicles, he said.

"It costs between $5,000 to $7,000 cost per year for commercial insurance per vehicle for any for-hire vehicle," he said.

App users request a driver and choose from the available cars by seeing their real-time location. The user sees a description of the vehicle, driver name and photo, current estimated wait times and a list of prices. The customer then stores their credit card information in the system so no cash is exchanged.

The cost is typically 20 percent less than ordering a taxi cab: $2.40 base cost, $1.50 a mile, and tax is included.

Total Transit keeps 20 percent of the fare, and the driver keeps 80 percent. The driver pays a service fee while they are working to help offset the insurance cost, Pinckard said.

The app allows customers to order a taxi cab, ride-sharing vehicle, black car, SUV or an accessible van

Total Transit is also hiring drivers for the new service. Drivers must have good driving records, can pass a background check and must go through training and demonstrate their ability to operate their vehicle safely.

Arizona is the only "truly, completely, deregulated for-hire transportation" market, which includes taxis, sedans and any for-hire transportation, Pinckard said.

"There's no limit as to how many vehicles can be licensed, or permitted," he said. "The protections in place are very low barrier to entry."

The vehicle has to have a commercial-for-hire license plate, the operator has to show proof of commercial insurance and drivers have to meet drug testing and background checks.

Total Transit app users can receive 25 percent off their first ride by entering the promo code "Arizona."

Phoenix was the 26th city to have the San Francisco-based Uber launch, back in November 2012.

Lyft expanded into the Phoenix market last year.

Hayley Ringle covers technology and startups for the Phoenix Business Journal.

Monday, December 22, 2014

NTM 1581 | NewTrendMag.org PRO Pak Taliban, ISIS magazine

NTM 1581 | NewTrendMag.org: "The only voice of truth turned out to be Maulana Abdul Aziz, the leader of the rejuvenated Red Mosque. He declared that the attack on North Waziristan was unIslamic and the attack on the army school was a consequence of the army's actions. .

Anti-Islamic-Pakistan elements, secularists and Shias, have become so bold that MQM, the fascist group ruling Karachi, called for the Red Mosque to be set on fire. Secularist demonstrators actually gathered at the mosque and were stopped by police from entering.

Not only was Maulana Abdul Aziz unafraid of the rallying cries against him, he reiterated his stand in his juma khutba [December 19].

Crowds of people started gathering from both sides and one of the Maulana's deputies went out and calmed people down by saying that they do condemn the attack on the army school. Maulana Abdul Azis refused to take back his position.

[May Allah keep Maulana Abdul Aziz safe. There is no one like him today at the leadership level.]

[Before these events, the rejuvenated women's seminary, Jamia Hafsa, linked to the Red Mosque, named its library after Osama bin Laden and declared support for ISIS.]"

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CBS Local Officials Consider Allowing Lyft, Uber Pickups At LAX

Local

Officials Consider Allowing Lyft, Uber Pickups At LAX

December 18, 2014 10:28 PM

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Transportation network

companies, such as Lyft and Uber, aren’t currently allowed to operate at Los Angeles International Airport but that could soon change.
During a Board of Airport Commissioners public meeting, speakers requested that LAX allow popular ride-share companies to pick up passengers, similar to taxis, shuttles and limousines.
“Please implement a non-exclusive license agreement for TNC service

to and from LAX,” said one speaker.
Currently, TNC services

are only allowed to drop passengers off at the airport.
“To have another option to help pay those student loans off and not be in debt

is really important to a lot of us,” said Lauren Szendrel, a Lyft driver. Szendrel works full-time and is a Lyft driver part-time.
“For me, it helps me pay off my Masters,” she said.
Laura Hunt attended Thursday’s meeting with 10,000 signatures in support

of Lyft.
“It’s very important to me because, as a resident of L.A., I want to have options,” Hunt said.
But not everyone agrees.
“Since they began operating, our business has gone down,” said Michael Giler, a driver

for United Independent Taxis, adding that it’s not just about competition, but safety. “We operate under a very tight rule base.”
Both Uber and Lyft say they insure up to $1 million and conduct thorough background checks of their drivers

but neither require fingerprinting.
LAX has set-up recommendations for the TNC services but the board did not make a decision Thursday. They are expected to meet again next month.

Five Urdu Bloggers From Pakistan Everyone Should Know · Global Voices

Five Urdu Bloggers From Pakistan Everyone Should Know · Global Voices: "Five Urdu Bloggers From Pakistan Everyone Should Know
Posted 2 April 2014 2:42 GMT
Pakistanis like me blog and tweet in English because that is our comfort zone.

Pakistani private schools, many of which were legacy British colonial institutions (or pretend to be) had a bias for English. We were left to learn our Urdu skills by ourselves. Blogging in English also allows us to connect with an international audience and share views that counter the image of a singular “Pakistan” projected by international mainstream media.

There are however, tens of thousands of Pakistanis conversing on the Internet in Urdu, our other national language. These bloggers are the most popular within the country. Unfortunately, due to Google indexing and the difficulty of typesetting and coding Urdu's Nastaʿlīq alphabet, English language blogs from Pakistan dominate search.

English blo"

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Sunday, December 21, 2014

Portland exploring ways to rein in Uber ride-sharing service - The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Portland exploring ways to rein in Uber ride-sharing service - The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram: "Uber has encountered resistance from government officials and the taxi industry in many of the places where it operates.

It has been issued fines and cease-and-desist orders from some municipal governments, but in most of those cases it has been able to negotiate subsequent agreements with local officials. However, the city of Portland, Oregon, sued the company this month, forcing it to shut down at least temporarily.

In July, London taxi drivers staged a protest against Uber in which they parked their black cabs in the middle of major streets for hours, disrupting traffic. In Boston, Uber has posted a list of precautions with its app to remind potential customers about safety precautions in response to assaults in that city linked to the ride-share service.

But Grondin said Portland officials welcome the service, and that they just want to make sure it operates safely and fairly.

“Nobody is saying we don’t want Uber,” she said. “They’re saying we want to level the playing field for everybody.”"

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Friday, December 19, 2014

Rideshare Drivers Still Cornered Into Insurance Secrecy Uber, Lyft

Rideshare Drivers Still Cornered Into Insurance Secrecy: "Collision coverage will remain spotty. Neither new law requires that the car-service apps’ collision insurance be primary. Uber and Lyft already offer primary collision insurance for the times when a driver is matched with a rider. Sidecar does not. And none of them offers collision insurance for the time when a driver has the app on but hasn’t accepted a ride request yet — the pesky “gap.” If drivers get in an accident during that period, their personal insurer could easily deny the claim if they consider it commercial activity, and the driver would be stuck paying for car repairs. For many drivers, things have improved but there’s still reason to be wary.

“I think I’m definitely more aware of what the insurance policy means,” said Max. “I’ll probably still drive for them, but that’s always going to be on the back of my mind.”

Follow"

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Thursday, December 18, 2014

Interview with a Lyft Driver Denied Medical After an Accident - Rideshare Dashboard

Interview with a Lyft Driver Denied Medical After an Accident - Rideshare Dashboard: \

If the driver remains on the scene and he/she has adequate insurance, the other driver’s insurance will be paying out damages to you. Lyft’s Insurance or your own personal insurance shouldn’t have to get involved. In most cases, it is recommended to report it to your insurance as they will help you track your claim and fight for your money. However, if you are not at fault and get into an accident, it is best not to report it to your own auto insurance company.
The other driver’s insurance will only pay out as much as that person has. If there is not enough for the full damages, then you can go to court and sue him personally. This is why liability insurance is so important because if you don’t have it, you could get sued and lose everything you own depending on the damages you incur.

If you are at fault:

You will be liable to pay for the damages to the third party, passengers, your own car, and your own medical bills (if you incurred any). Lyft’s commercial insurance will pick up your liability for damages to third parties and your passenger.
Damages of your car will be paid out by Lyft IF AND ONLY IF you have submitted those claims to your own personal auto insurance and they deny this claim. If they deny this claim, it is very possible that they will drop you as your insurer as you are using your vehicle for hire. You really can’t argue with them on this one as it is at their discretion to interpret what is for hire and what is not, even if you are working for Sidecar and they are on the donation model.
If your own personal auto policy denies your claim, Lyft’s insurance will cover your car, but only after a $2500 deductible. You will have to pay up to $2500 worth of damage before Lyft’s insurance pays for any of the damages to your own car.
If your own auto insurance already denied your claim for collision, they won’t be covering your medical bills either. Your fallback is your medical insurance. In the above accident, the Lyft driver was covered by the medical insurance.

How well are you insured? Have you thought about what to do in the case of a Lyft accident? Are you ready to pay up to $2500 to fix your own car? Do you have a plan that covers your medical bills?

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