MPs should lighten up on Uber as they may soon need new jobs

The clash between archaic attitudes and modern technology couldn’t have been made starker than by the attitudes shown by Select Committee MPs when Uber testified at parliament today, says ACT Leader David Seymour.

“According to reports MPs, all but one of whom have never used a ride share service such as Uber, appeared to have no concept of how the service worked, describing Uber drivers as ‘gypsies’ and asking why a ride sharing service ordered by phone app would not wait at taxi ranks. Another MP didn’t grasp that transit lanes are accessible depending on the number of occupants rather than the status of the vehicle.

“Many Kiwis use ride sharing as part of their everyday life and greater ridesharing accessibility is one of the biggest opportunities we have to increase the number of passengers per vehicle and thus reduce congestion. New Zealand should be aiming to become a lead adopter of transport technology but this is impossible given the archaic attitudes of these MPs.

“The requirement to keep a log book for instance is completely redundant in an age when all rides are ordered, tracked and charged electronically, driver behaviour and safety are enforced by immediate feedback from the customer.

“It is embarrassing that Members of Parliament have a far weaker grasp of how technology is changing transport than the average Uber driver I’ve ridden with.”

ENDS

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