New York backs down in Uber fight

Despite Uber placing a “de Blasio” tab in its app, showing users potential wait times for rides if the mayor’s bill passed, de Blasio stood his ground, saying, “No company’s multi-billion-dollar political war chest gives it a blank check to skirt vital protections and oversight for New Yorkers”.

The ad’s copy references a Times opinion piece last week about why de Blasio’s legislation is “a bad idea.” Another Uber ad on The New York Times’ website today claims that the mayor’s proposed idea is more about politics than policy.

Some cities have banned its services, it is being sued for employing contractors instead of full-time workers, and it was recently fined $7.3 million for not complying with regulations in California.

Uber also committed to making more of its vehicles handicap-accessible and to turn over additional data to the city about its rides.

Uber rider Kryzsztof Anton of Queens said he was pleased the two sides reached at least a temporary halt on the city’s plan. And at the 11th hour, the state’s most powerful figure broke his silence and appeared to once again thumb his nose at de Blasio.

“We are pleased new drivers will continue to be free to join the for-hire industry and partner with Uber”, Josh Mohrer, Uber NYC’s general manager, said in a statement. “But his own administration’s Taxi & Limousine Commission had data clearly showing that de Blasio’s contentions were at best misleading”.

“All along, the goal has been to thoughtfully address the impacts of the explosive growth in the for-hire vehicle industry and it has become clear that we can achieve this through cooperation between the city and the industry”, Mark-Viverito said in a statement.

Uber battled the bill over the course of last month, saturating local channels with commercials featuring tearful Uber drivers, in an attempt to tug at the heartstrings of the populace.

Now the city will move forward with its traffic study, which is expected to wrap up at the end of November.

Currently, Uber has 25,000 vehicles operating on their behalf, outnumbering the 13,000 traditional yellow taxis.

New York magazine credited de Blasio’s defeat in large part to Uber chief adviser and board member David Plouffe, the man behind Obama’s 2008 presidential win.

The bill had sought to limit Uber’s growth to 1% in the coming year to study the effect of the auto service on traffic and pollution.

According to city officials, yellow taxis make 90 percent of their trips in Manhattan, while Uber showed a far lower presence even during rush hour.