[NFBMT] UberEATS

[Bruce&Joy Breslauer]

According to today's Bozeman Daily Chronicle:  

 

UberEATS, the popular ride-sharing company's food delivery spinoff, is set to
launch in Bozeman today.

 

The standalone app will allow users to order food from starting at roughly 20
area restaurants, many of which typically don't offer delivery.

 

"We're partnering with a bunch of great Bozeman restaurants so customers can
get the food they love quickly and conveniently, no matter what they like
best," said Kiran Vinta, UberEATS general manager.

 

The early local adopters include The Garage, Stuffed Crepes & Waffles, La
Parrilla and Biankini's, among several others. Participating restaurants set
the prices on menu items, while Uber adds a $5.99 booking fee.

 

With Thursday's launch, Bozeman joins Missoula - which started the service
Monday - as the second city in Montana to offer UberEATS. The company says it
has plans to expand the app to other parts of the state.

 

UberEATs is currently available in 115 cities in 28 countries.

 

In June, Uber - last year valued at $68 billion - ousted co-founder Travis
Kalanick, appointing in his place former Expedia CEO Dara Khosrowshahi. The
company is also entangled in several legal battles, including an
investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice over whether Uber bribed
foreign officials.

 

Last week, the Montana Public Service Commission approved the application of
ride-sharing company and Uber competitor Lyft, effectively allowing them to
operate in the state.

 

As with Uber's arrival, area cab companies protested the approval, arguing
that the app presented a potential insurance liability.

 

State law requires ride-share companies have insurance coverage of $50,000
for death and bodily injury per person, $100,000 per incident and $25,000 for
property damage. When a driver is engaged in a pre-arranged ride,
requirements increase to $1 million.

 

"In the past, existing operators held what amounted to a competitor's veto
over newcomers," said PSC Commissioner Travis Kavulla at the Aug. 24 hearing.
"That is no longer the case, and today, any firm can compete, so long as they
can demonstrate that they are a 'fit' operator."

 

Uber currently has roughly 500 drivers across the state, a "significant
percentage of whom" work in the Bozeman area, according to Uber Montana
general manager Brian Gebhardt.

 

Questions remain over whether Uber drivers are legally defined as employees
or independent contractors. The company has said that it considers its
drivers independent contractors, however, state law requires contractors to
apply for independent contractor exemption certificates and it's unclear how
many drivers,

if any, have obtained them.  Without these ICECs, drivers are considered Uber
employees and eligible for benefits such as workers' compensation.

 

Joy Breslauer, President

National Federation of the Blind of Montana 

Web Site: http://www.nfbofmt.org <http://www.nfbofmt.org/> 

 

Live the life you want

 

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characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
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