VOA慢速英语2014 Concerns Raised for Uber, Ride-Sharing Services

 

AS IT IS 2014-12-15 Concerns Raised for Uber, Ride-Sharing Services

The Indian government this week called for all unregistered taxi services to halt operations. The order came after the reported rape¹ of a woman by a driver for the company Uber in the capital New Delhi. Uber uses a mobile app to link drivers and people seeking a ride.

The federal government in New Delhi ordered a halt to all taxis using ride-sharing apps because they do not meet local requirements. The government also has sent a notice to all states asking them to halt unregistered taxi services.

A statement from Uber said the company will “work with the government [of India] to establish clear background checks currently absent in their commercial transportation licensing² programs.”

Transport Minister Ntiin Gadkari said the ban was not the answer saying the rules needed to be improved.                                       

The incident and resulting government action has brought attention to the issue of rules for mobile service businesses. The issue has grown more important with the expansion of what is called the “sharing economy.”  The question is, “How should new companies entering an established market be regulated?”

Uber has been expanding quickly. The company says it operates in over 200 cities and over 50 countries around the world. Its fast growth has led financial experts to value the company in the billions of dollars. However, Uber’s expansion has placed it in competition with existing taxi services and caused some cities and countries to ban the ride-sharing service.

Uber has faced or is facing bans in Germany, Spain, India, and Thailand. In the United States, opposition³ to the ride-sharing service is widespread but uneven⁴.

In Pennsylvania, for example, UberX, a low-cost ride-sharing service from Uber can operate anywhere except the state’s largest city of Philadelphia. In Philadelphia, Uber Black, a more expensive limousine⁵ service from Uber, and other taxi services can legally operate with licenses⁶ from the Philadelphia Parking Authority.

In November, Philadelphia tried to sell medallions, which are licenses to operate a taxi in the city. News reports suggested many medallions were not sold because of Uber and similar competitors.

Vince Fenerty is the director of the Philadelphia Parking Authority which regulates taxis in the city. He says UberX is unfairly, and illegally, entering the taxi service market in Philadelphia without following the same rules as companies that hold a medallion.

“We have a medallion cab system. No place else in Pennsylvania has a medallion cab system. So they’re not competing with someone who by statute⁷ had to buy a medallion to operate their business.”                  

Mobile applications let businesses sell directly to their customers. The so-called sharing economy takes this a step further. Individuals can rent things they own such as a car or an extra room to people anywhere using mobile apps. Even payment is taken care of through an app.

The issue is that these transactions are not regulated the way taxi services or hotels are. Critics say they can be unsafe. Vince Fenerty calls the unregulated taxi services “hacks.”

“They are basically running what’s called a hack⁸ taxicab service. A totally unregulated service which brings into question the safety of the passenger, the credentials⁹ of the driver and the mechanical workings of the vehicle. They submit to nothing.”

Uber says on its website that every ridesharing driver is investigated using a criminal background check. The company says it reviews each driver’s motor vehicle record. But in the reported case in India, the company is accused of not performing a check of the driver’s criminal record.

Uber started in 2009 in San Francisco, California. Its competitor Lyft also started in that city. But as ride-sharing businesses like UberX enter new markets, they increasingly face local public safety laws overseeing their service.

This past week, the city of Chicago approved new rules to create a mobile app to assist taxi services licensed¹⁰ by the city. And New York is considering a similar measure as the answer to the new sharing economy.

Words in This Story

unregistered - adj. not entered on an official list or system of public records; not registered

app - n. short for application, a computer program often associated with mobile technology

licenses - n. an official document that gives the holder¹¹ permission to have, use or do something

medallion - n. a large round medal, but in this story a way of giving someone permission to operate a taxi

transactions - n. business dealings where money, goods, or services change hands

1 rape   

n.抢夺，掠夺，强奸；vt.掠夺，抢夺，强奸

参考例句：

• The rape of the countryside had a profound ravage on them.对乡村的掠夺给他们造成严重创伤。
• He was brought to court and charged with rape.他被带到法庭并被指控犯有强奸罪。

2 licensing   

v.批准，许可，颁发执照( license的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• A large part of state regulation consists of occupational licensing. 大部分州的管理涉及行业的特许批准。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法
• That licensing procedures for projects would move faster. 这样的工程批准程序一定会加快。 来自辞典例句

3 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

4 uneven   

adj.不平坦的，不规则的，不均匀的

参考例句：

• The sidewalk is very uneven—be careful where you walk.这人行道凹凸不平—走路时请小心。
• The country was noted for its uneven distribution of land resources.这个国家以土地资源分布不均匀出名。

5 limousine   

n.豪华轿车

参考例句：

• A chauffeur opened the door of the limousine for the grand lady.司机为这个高贵的女士打开了豪华轿车的车门。
• We arrived in fine style in a hired limousine.我们很气派地乘坐出租的豪华汽车到达那里。

6 licenses   

n.执照( license的名词复数 )v.批准，许可，颁发执照( license的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Drivers have ten days' grace to renew their licenses. 驾驶员更换执照有10天的宽限期。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Jewish firms couldn't get import or export licenses or raw materials. 犹太人的企业得不到进出口许可证或原料。 来自辞典例句

7 statute   

n.成文法，法令，法规；章程，规则，条例

参考例句：

• Protection for the consumer is laid down by statute.保障消费者利益已在法令里作了规定。
• The next section will consider this environmental statute in detail.下一部分将详细论述环境法令的问题。

8 hack   

n.劈，砍，出租马车；v.劈，砍，干咳

参考例句：

• He made a hack at the log.他朝圆木上砍了一下。
• Early settlers had to hack out a clearing in the forest where they could grow crops.早期移民不得不在森林里劈出空地种庄稼。

9 credentials   

n.证明，资格，证明书，证件

参考例句：

• He has long credentials of diplomatic service.他的外交工作资历很深。
• Both candidates for the job have excellent credentials.此项工作的两个求职者都非常符合资格。

10 licensed   

adj.得到许可的v.许可，颁发执照(license的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• The new drug has not yet been licensed in the US. 这种新药尚未在美国获得许可。
• Is that gun licensed? 那支枪有持枪执照吗？

11 holder   

n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物

参考例句：

• The holder of the office of chairman is reponsible for arranging meetings.担任主席职位的人负责安排会议。
• That runner is the holder of the world record for the hundred-yard dash.那位运动员是一百码赛跑世界纪录的保持者。