Uber App Debuts 'De Blasio' Feature To Rip Possible Vehicle Limits In NYC
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Ride-sharing service Uber is taking aim at Mayor Bill de Blasio over a measure that could dramatically curtail the number of new ride-sharing vehicles in the city.
Uber's app is offering a new feature called "de Blasio's Uber," which purports to show what would happen if a plan to cap the number of Uber cars on city streets is adopted.
When selected the de Blasio option offers a wait time of 25 minutes.
Chief Advisor for Uber David Plouffe said the cap could cause "wait times in Manhattan to skyrocket.''
"Mayor de Blasio's plan to stop Uber will cost 10,000 jobs, hurt underserved areas and make wait times for Uber cars skyrocket. With this view, New York City riders can see for themselves how much time this political payback to big taxi owners will cost them," Plouffe said in a statement Thursday.
As WCBS 880's Jim Smith reported, Josh Mohrer, the company's General Manager in New York said capping growth at 200 new drivers a year doesn't add up.
"What that will do is it'll make service reliability much, much worse. In Manhattan it'll take far longer to get an Uber. In the boroughs you won't be able to even get one," he said.
The New York City Council is expected to vote on a measure that would cut down the number of new for-hire vehicle licenses.
Uber App Debuts 'De Blasio' Feature To Rip Possible Vehicle Limits In NYC
Since 2011, about 25,000 black and livery cars have been added to New York's streets, which some officials blame for worsening traffic congestion.
The legislation would place a 1 percent growth cap on car services for at least a year while the city studies the impact of the influx of new cars on traffic.
Uber supporters, however, say the plan limits free enterprise and consumer choice.
As CBS2's Valerie Castro reported, Uber drivers have been fighting the bill since last month, and riders say 'don't blame Uber.'
"It's not going to be solved by hurting Uber. it'll be solved by stopping foreign cars that are not New York City business or residents coming in during business hours," Norisol Ferrari said.
In addition to the app's jab at de Blasio, recent ads are also sending a message.
A mayoral spokesman said the "de Blasio's Uber'' feature was the latest in the company's "ugly and disingenuous tactics.''
"Uber has run this playbook in cities all over the world to fight back basic protections for drivers and passengers, and to keep governments from managing the crush of new cars flooding already crowded streets," a statement from the Mayor's Office said.
The City Council is expected to vote on the proposed legislation next week.
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