Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Uber And Lyft Drivers Slow Down NYC Traffic To Protest App Changes
By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 17, 2019
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
NBC New York
By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 17, 2019
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Traffic was backed up on the Brooklyn Bridge and FDR Drive on Tuesday when hundreds of Uber and Lyft drivers conducted a "slow vehicle procession" toward Gracie Mansion to protest new changes to the companies' apps. Drivers are arguing that the companies are preventing them from earning a living—and want the Mayor and City Council to step in.
According to the Independent Drivers Guild, "Starting on Tuesday Uber will enact new policies to kick drivers off the apps between trips and in areas of lower demand in order to avoid paying drivers as required by New York City’s pay regulations. Lyft enacted a similar policy earlier this summer to protests from the Drivers Guild. The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission has failed to take action, so the Drivers Guild is calling for the Mayor and City Council to stop the apps from violating the pay rules in an attempt to scam drivers out of fair pay."
In June, Lyft changed its policy to comply with minimum-wage laws. As Crain's explained it, "The new payment formula looks at how much of the time a driver cruises with an empty car. The more cruising a driver does, the more fare revenue the app-based company needs to share to ensure the driver makes at least $17 an hour after expenses. App-based services with a high 'utilization rate'—meaning their drivers are ferrying passengers nearly 60% of the time—can contribute less to the driver's pay. To reduce congestion in Midtown the Taxi and Limousine Commission wants fewer empty cars."
Now Uber is following suit, not that it nor Lyft want to; Lyft had filed (and then dropped) a lawsuit challenging the minimum wage rule, while Uber said in a statement on Monday, "Time and again we’ve seen Mayor (Bill) de Blasio’s TLC pass arbitrary and politically-driven rules that have unintended consequences for drivers and riders."
The Independent Drivers Guild argued, "By logging drivers off the app and requiring them to travel to an area of higher demand in order to pick up their next trip, Lyft would be shifting the costs of travel and waiting time onto the drivers and in so doing, violate this commission’s rules."
NYC's own yellow cab industry is in crisis, in part because of increased competition from the app-based services. The IDG has asked for a Drivers' Bill of Rights, which would prevent the apps from deactivating drivers without a stated cause, among other guarantees.
Tagged
lyft
taxi
taxi and limousine comission
independent drivers guild
uber
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Parents grumble as NYC schools chancellor dodges calls for NYC schools integration plan
Journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones said she felt disappointed by the lack of details.
By
Jessica Gould
Published Oct 20, 2026 at 10:01 p.m. ET
Driver found with apparent gunshot wound on George Washington Bridge, officials say
The westbound upper level was closed Tuesday night as Port Authority police investigated the incident.
By
Charles Lane
News
Driver found with apparent gunshot wound on George Washington Bridge, officials say
The westbound upper level was closed Tuesday night as Port Authority police investigated the incident.
By
Charles Lane
16 arrested in New York auto insurance fraud crackdown involving nearly $500K
By
Giulia Heyward
Coney Island's small, 1890s lighthouse may be landmarked by the city
By
Catalina Gonella
New renderings are out for Queens' Metropolitan Park casino
By
Willow Higgins
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .