Just as we got used to seeing the sight of pink-mustached cars driving around LA, the city is working to dump Lyft, the rideshare service owned by San Francisco-based Zimride. Department of Transportation taxicab administrator Thomas Drischler sent Lyft and two other rideshare companies--Uber and Sidecar--cease-and-desist letters, LA Weekly reports. The city accuses the companies of "operating an unlicensed, for-profit commercial transportation service in the City of Los Angeles. In the interest of public safety, Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar are hereby directed to cease and desist from picking up passengers within the City of Los Angeles." Lyft requires a smartphone app that allows people to find nearby drivers--they charge about 30 percent less than cabs and they're vetted; however, they're apparently "not required to pass background checks or have their vehicles inspected for safety." Taxi companies are obviously no fans of these new rideshare companies and rallied against them at City Hall this morning, though their point may be moot anyway.
· Ride App Services Told to Shut Down in LA [LA Weekly]
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