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BRONX TIMES REPORTER, APR. 22-28, 2022 BXR
BY ALIYA SCHNEIDER
A Bronx lawmaker is proposing
a bill in response to the recent
subway attack in Brooklyn that
would prevent rideshare companies
from charging higher prices
during emergencies.
On Monday, state Assemblymember
Kenny Burgos introduced
a bill that would prohibit
transportation companies from
charging surge prices during federal,
state and locally declared
emergencies.
The proposal comes after
Frank James allegedly opened a
smoke canister and shot at passengers
inside a subway car and
on the Sunset Park subway platform
in Brooklyn on April 19.
James allegedly shot 10 people
and injured more than 20 and is
facing federal terrorism charges.
However, the city did not declare
a state of emergency the day
of the shooting.
Mayor Eric Adams’ office did
not repsond to a request for comment.
Companies like Uber and Lyft
raise prices when demand is
high, which happened last Tuesday.
But Uber and Lyft both ultimately
suspended surge pricing
after the attack on Tuesday and
issued refunds for riders who already
paid the higher prices, the
companies told the Bronx Times.
The bill, called the Stop Unreasonable
Rideshare Gouging during
Emergencies (SURGE) Act,
would take effect 30 days after being
signed into law. If companies
violate the rule, they would be
fined $250 for each incident.
The bill has not been assigned
a number, as of Tuesday.
“After the subway shooting
in Sunset Park, many terrified
commuters saw a major price
increase for their Uber and Lyft
ride,” Burgos, a Soundview Progressive,
said in a statement.
“This is putting profit over
people, plain and simple. Faced
with a crisis, commuters were
put in an impossible position
by these ridesharing apps. New
Yorkers should not be subject
to price gouging and certainly
not during an emergency. These
fearful commuters should have
been able to safely leave the
scene of the attack without worrying
about exorbitant costs.
My bill would end unfair surge
pricing and hold these companies
accountable who do not
comply.”
In a comment to the Bronx
Times, Lyft said the company
will continue “engaging with
all stakeholders to strengthen
our role in emergency situations.”
“We also worked to quickly
provide assistance to thousands
of riders after these tragic
events,” the company added.
On Tuesday, Uber spokesperson
Freddi Goldstein said the
company cannot comment on a
bill that hasn’t been made available
for public review.
In 2014, then Attorney General
Eric Schneiderman and Uber
made a three-year agreement
to limit prices during declared
emergencies. Goldstein declined
to comment on the agreement.
While Uber and Lyft can raise prices when there is higher demand, a Bronx state
lawmaker wants to prohibit them from doing so during emergencies like the
April 19 subway attack in Brooklyn. Photo courtesy Getty
Burgos introduces bill to prevent
surge pricing during emergencies
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