New York Moves to Require Uber to Provide Tipping Option in Its App -
By EMMA G. FITZSIMMONSAPRIL 17, 2017
New Yorkers have for years been able to tip a taxi driver by adding a few dollars to their bill before swiping a credit card.
James Conigliaro Jr., the founder of the Independent Drivers Guild, said allowing drivers to earn tips
would help them make a decent living after Uber had in recent years reduced driver rates in New York.
Passengers can tip an Uber driver using cash, but many do not carry cash or know whether they should feel obligated to provide a tip.
In New York, the use of Uber and other ride-hailing services has soared to about 16 million
passengers in October, from about five million in June 2015, according to a recent study.
Now officials in New York City are moving to require Uber to provide a tipping option in the app.
If new rules are approved in New York, it would be a major change in how Uber runs its business in its largest United States market.
The city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission announced a proposal on Monday requiring car services
that accept only credit cards to allow passengers to tip the driver using their card.
“Uber is always striving to offer the best earning opportunity for drivers and we are constantly working to improve the driver experience,” Ms. Anfang said in a statement, noting
that the company had worked with the drivers guild to make sure drivers had a voice.
The decision was prompted by a petition from the Independent Drivers Guild, a group representing Uber drivers in New York.