Apple has filed a patent for facial recognition technology to unlock car doors as drivers & passengers approach. LINK
Lithuanian startup Trafi and BVG, the main public transport company in Berlin, announced a partnership of a multimodal mobility App. The app, which will launch this summer, will include payment of public transit, scooters, carpooling, bikes, ride-hailing, and car-sharing. LINK
Tempe, Arizona passed a new regulation that requires mobility operators to free the city “from any liability related to an accident or injury even if the city was found to be negligent.” LINK
- FLASHBACK: Tempe faces $10 million claim in Uber self-driving vehicle fatality LINK
- REACTION ON OUR SLACK GROUP: Kody, CEO of Velometro says, “Here’s a story that’s very scary to us operators. There are some cities that already have regulations like this in place, but if more and more keep adding them it will kill micromobility pretty quickly. Insurance providers for us operators certainly do not want to assume all liability for every injury that occurs within a city, especially when the city is liable.” Thank Kody.
Audi launches a feature that will tell drivers of select models, in select cities, exactly how fast to go to surf a green wave. The dashboard will display a speed recommendation based on traffic signal information and the current position of a car. LINK
- GREEN WAVE: A green wave occurs when a series of traffic lights (usually three or more) are coordinated to allow continuous traffic flow over several intersections in one main direction. LINK
DC could subsidize Lyft and Uber rides when the subway is closed at night LINK
- Uber is subsidizing Washington DC’s mass transit to keep it open after Hockey Playoff game …. just days after city council was looking to raise the taxon ridesharing. LINK
Berlin’s “Rent-a-Center” for Tech, where you can rent Apple AirPods for $26 a month, is venturing into micro-mobility. Grover has just launched GroverGo, where you can rent the $413 Xiaomi M365 e-scooter for $56.79 a month. LINK
REPORT: The Chinese Xiaomi M365 contains a flaw that could allow a hacker to take full remote control over the vehicle, including causing the scooter to suddenly accelerate or brake. The firm blames the scooter’s password authentication process, which is done via Bluetooth communications. LINK
Nissan has found a creative, sustainable way to recycle old Leaf batteries. The Japanese firm teamed up with British camper manufacturer OPUS to develop a pop-up camper. For those roughing it out in the wild, the camper will have a portable microwave, fridge and a digital projector with a pull-up screen. LINK
Firefly, which pays Uber and Lyft drivers about $300 a month to mount digital screens with ads on their vehicles, continues to ignore the Los Angeles City Attorney to stop operations because they are breaking a state and city law. Now a Los Angeles City Councilman has introduced a motion to the Los Angeles Police Department to enforce the law. LINK
Did you know that you need a special permit to transport the Pennsylvania Amish? Here’s an interesting piece about an ‘Amish Taxi’ driver who started his business by accident in 1975. The rides are ordered days or weeks in advance via a community landline telephone. LINK
- FLASHBACK: An Amish entrepreneur slaps the word Uber on the side of his horse and buggy and gets international exposure for his $5 carriage Well played Mr. Hochstedler. LINK
