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Podcasts Take Two
Ride-sharing services get left in the dust on political lobbying
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Jul 22, 2014
Ride-sharing services get left in the dust on political lobbying
Ride-sharing services spent just over $539,000 to lobby their case in Sacramento. Meanwhile, those who hope to place more regulations on them spent $6.1 million in the same time period -- more than 11 times as much.
A city attorney told the Los Angeles City Council Tuesday it may have missed its chance to appeal state regulations on mobile ride-sharing apps like Uber and Lyft.
A city attorney told the Los Angeles City Council Tuesday it may have missed its chance to appeal state regulations on mobile ride-sharing apps like Uber and Lyft.
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Photo by Tribute/ Homenaje via Flickr Creative Commons
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Ride-sharing services spent just over $539,000 to lobby their case in Sacramento. Meanwhile, those who hope to place more regulations on them spent $6.1 million in the same time period -- more than 11 times as much.

The popularity of ride-sharing services like Uber, Lyft and Sidecar may be increasing at a break neck pace, but they stall when it comes to politics. These ride sharing services are facing a lot of opposition from those who'd like to see a lot more regulation.

And as political neophytes, these services face an uphill battle. For example, they spent just over $539,000 to lobby in Sacramento from 2013 to March of this year.

Meanwhile, those who hope to place more regulations on them spent $6.1 million in the same time period, more than 11 times as much.

Political reporter Joe Garofoli has been writing about this David and Goliath story for the San Francisco Chronicle, and he explains why Silicon Valley gets out-maneuvered in politics.