After years of resisting efforts by cities to regulate their business and constant—but unprofitable—growth, Uber and Lyft are homing in on their unique strengths.

Despite small differences in their operations and business models, Uber and Lyft have essentially operated as interchangeable services for most customers for years. Now, writes Andrew J. Hawkins, the two transportation network companies (TNCs) are starting to differentiate themselves by centering their operations on each company's specific strengths, as evidenced by earnings reports issued last week by both TNCs.
"Uber’s main side hustle is delivery. Food and other delivery bookings in the fourth quarter grew 33 percent year over year." Meanwhile, Lyft president John Zimmer says his company has no plans to follow suit. "We want to have one main consumer that we’re building for. And again, we will not build a consumer-facing marketplace for groceries or food," Zimmer said. But Lyft has bolstered the micromobility side of its business, reports Hawkins, with bikeshare as its fastest-growing customer base, while Uber has "largely abandoned its two-wheeled operations."
Hawkins notes that, while both companies expressed enthusiasm about autonomous vehicles, both largely sold off their AV divisions, with Lyft still maintaining some ties through a deal with Argo.ai to put its vehicles on Lyft's platform.
The two rideshare giants continue to compete and face some of the same challenges, but, as Hawkins puts it, their recent earnings reports show that the two may take more different paths in the future.
FULL STORY: Uber and Lyft are finally starting to look like different companies

Rethinking Redlining
For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself
The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.

‘Displaced By Design:’ Report Spotlights Gentrification in Black Neighborhoods
A new report finds that roughly 15 percent of U.S. neighborhoods have been impacted by housing cost increases and displacement.

Nevada and Utah Groups Oppose Public Land Sell-Off Plan
A set of last-minute amendments to the budget reconciliation bill open up over half a million acres of federally managed land to sales.

More Than a Park: A Safe Haven for Generations in LA’s Chinatown
Alpine Recreation Center serves as a vital cultural and community hub in Los Angeles' Chinatown, offering a safe, welcoming space for generations of Chinese American residents to gather, connect, and thrive amidst rapid urban change.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Clovis
City of Moorpark
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions