The Price of an Uber Ride to Increase in Seattle Jan. 1—to the Benefit of Drivers

A new law setting a minimum wage for Uber drivers takes effect in the New Year.

1 minute read

December 31, 2020, 10:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


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"Uber will charge customers about 25% more on each trip starting Jan. 1, as Seattle’s new minimum wage law for ride-hailing drivers goes into effect," reports Michelle Baruchman.

"By April 1, as the compensation for drivers fully phases in, fares could increase by 50% compared to today’s prices, said Harry Hartfield, a spokesperson for Uber."

The Seattle City Council approved the new wage requirements earlier this year for both Uber and Lyft, but Lyft hasn't yet announced price increases.

The article includes links to research on how much ride-hailing drivers earned before the changes and details the pandemic-specific risks of the job. The latter is just one of the justifications listed for the new law.

Wednesday, December 30, 2020 in The Seattle Times

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