The sharing economy has transformed how we find places to stay on vacation and even how we get around town. But the system has a major flaw—reviews aren’t always honest and trustworthy.
Enterprise CarShare Halts Service in Chicago, Citing ‘Theft, Vandalism and Fraud’
Chicago Tribune – June 14, 2017
Chicago crime has led Enterprise’s car-sharing operation to cancel existing reservations in the area and stop taking new ones, the company says. Enterprise CarShare has had “a lack of vehicle availability” for the past six weeks, as “a direct effect of significant vandalism, theft and fraud,” the company told its members via email Tuesday.
Uber’s Problems: Has The CEO Just Trashed Entrepreneurship And The Sharing Economy?
Its contempt for rules and its juvenile corporate culture have put Uber’s leadership in question across the globe. The European Court of Justice in Luxembourg will decide this summer if Uber should be considered a technical platform that links independent drivers and random passengers, or a transportation service. In other words, is Uber a transport service or Internet service? Should the court decide Uber is a transportation service, the company will have to comply with the safety rules in European countries and comply with the same legislation as their taxi-driving rivals.
World Economic Forum Sees the Future of Global Cities in Inclusivity, Mindfulness, and Sharing
The cities of the future embrace the principles of being inclusive, being mindful, and sharing, says Alice Charles, community lead for infrastructure and urban development at the World Economic Forum. She shared practical examples of these cities at ULI Belgium’s recent conference in Brussels.
Cyclist Killed by Bus in New York’s First Citi Bike Fatality
The New York Times – June 12, 2017
A 36-year-old investment banker was killed in Manhattan on Monday morning when the Citi Bike he was riding collided with a charter bus, the first fatality involving New York City’s four-year-old bike-share program, the authorities said.
Japan Passes Law Legalizing Airbnb and other Sharing Economy Rentals
There’s good news for Airbnb in Japan where the government has approved legislation that legalizes its service, and others like it, in the country. The law, which was passed by Japan’s upper house on Friday, will allow home-owners to let out their property to paying guests for up to 180 days per year. They are subject to registering with local authorities who, in turn, have license to implement their own restrictions
Honolulu’s First Bike-Sharing Program Brings 1,000 Bikes to the Streets June 28
Honolulu Magazine – June 9, 2017
Starting June 28, Honolulu will be transformed, and very quickly, by the introduction of 1,000 “Biki” bikes (pronounced “beaky”) at 100 self-serve Bikeshare Hawai‘i stations. “This is not for racing and exercise, it’s a different kind of transportation,” says CEO Lori McCarney.
Mobile Gas Delivery Proposed for Vancouver’s Car Sharing Drivers
A California-based tech startup wants to let motorists fuel their vehicles anywhere, anytime with the use of an app, instead of driving to a gas station. The mobile fuel service called Filld has partnered with car2go to deliver gas to the car-share company’s Vancouver fleet.
Automakers Race to Get Ahead of Silicon Valley on Car-Sharing
The New York Times – June 8, 2017
The BMW ride-sharing service, ReachNow, represents the latest effort by a car manufacturer to get a grip on the technological trends that could disrupt their businesses by making vehicle ownership — and eventually even drivers — unnecessary. BMW and Daimler, maker of Mercedes-Benz, are two of the most aggressive carmakers building their own “mobility services” to prevent Silicon Valley’s upstarts from keeping all the spoils themselves.
Bike-Share Companies Vie for Chance to Set Up Shop in Seattle — Without Stations
The Seattle Times – June 2, 2017
More than a half-dozen private, stationless bike-share companies are interested in opening in Seattle. They don’t want tax money, but the companies have no precedent in the U.S. and the city is trying to figure out how it will all work.
