U of California bans employees from using Uber because it’s too dangerous
The Office of Risk Services determined these startups "are not fully regulated" and therefore "do not protect users to the same extent as a commercially regulated business.”
The University of California (UC) has banned employees from using Uber, Lyft and Airbnb, on business trips — claiming the companies are so dangerous that they present “insurance concerns.”
The system’s Office of Risk Services determined that these and other service startups "are not fully regulated" and therefore "do not protect users to the same extent as a commercially regulated business,” according to an email sent out to the University of California - Los Angeles campus.
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According to an article in Inside Higher Ed in UC officials decided that using these services was so risky that it could present “insurance concerns.”
Both Lyft and Uber are ride-sharing services that allow users to order taxis from their mobile phones. Both services have extensive safety measures in place: from liability insurance to detailed background checks on all drivers.
Airbnb is an online and mobile service that allows people to rent their homes and apartments to guests. It is widely popular, with more than 15 million total guests, and is offered in n 34 thousand cities in 190 countries, according to its website.
All hosts and guests must also verify their identities in order to participate.
The rules apply to the employees of all schools in the UC system.
Ironically, Logan Green, the CEO and co-founder of Lyft, attended UC-Santa Barbara, and Travis Kalanick, the CEO and co-founder of Uber, went to UCLA.
Follow the author of this article on Twitter: @kctimpf
