Tipping a taxi driver is a common occurrence in New York City. When ridesharing apps came along, some offered an in-app tip option, while others did not.
The ridesharing app in question that doesn’t currently have a tipping option: Uber.
As such, the Taxi and Limousine Commission put forth a proposal this week requesting car services to only accept credit cards if there’s a tip option available. Stemming from an Uber-represented group, Independent Drivers Guild, this effort was put forth by a petition with over 11,000 signatures.
New York City’s Taxi Commissioner, Meera Joshi, commented on how this new proposal would impact the ridesharing industry in the area: “This rule proposal will be an important first step to improve earning potential in the for-hire vehicle industry, but it is just one piece of a more comprehensive effort to improve the economic well-being of drivers.”
With 16 million passengers in Oct. 2016, the proposal argues that its drivers are losing out on a large portion of their income. In March of this year, Lyft reported its drivers received $200 million in tips alone.
Uber’s spokesperson, Alix Anfang, commented on its core values, saying, “Uber is always striving to offer the best earning opportunity for drivers, and we are constantly working to improve the driver experience.”
The proposal is currently under review at Uber.
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