Is Taxi Service Uber Price Gouging or Following Market Forces?

The east coast was feeling the cold this week, but Uber got the
most heat from users and journalists accusing the taxi service of
price gouging in the midst of a snow storm. It’s just the lastest
criticism for the company who has faced off with many critics
(mostly city officials) over its business model. Reason TV explored
Uber’s ride hurdles in our nation’s capitol in “Uber Wars: How D.C.
Tried to Kill a Great New Ride Technology,” directed by Rob Montz
(follow him on Twitter @robmontz) and executive
produced by William Beutler at Beutler Ink (@BeutlerInk). Here is the
original text:

The on-demand car service Uber is one of the most inventive
transportation technologies of the new century. In over 20
countries – and two dozen U.S. cities – Uber uses a smartphone app
to connect people who need rides with drivers of a range of
vehicles from luxury towncars to regular taxis.

Like most powerful innovations, Uber disrupts the status quo by
competing with established business interests. In Washington, D.C.,
the service was an instant hit with city residents – and almost as
quickly found itself at odds with D.C.’s powerful taxi lobby and
its allies on the city council. 

The result was the Uber Wars, which ended in a striking victory
for the company and its customers.

Related Article: ”Driving
in the Future: How Regulators Try to Crush Uber, Lyft, and New
Ride-Sharing Ventures.”

View this article.