SAN FRANCISCO – As office workers return to city centers, cities must tackle the traffic and pollution associated with Uber and Lyft, according to a new report and briefing note. Moving Forward: The Role of Transportation Network Companies in a Sustainable Future provides recommendations for cities to integrate Uber and Lyft into a sustainable transportation system. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has partnered with the University of California, researchers from the Berkeley Transportation Sustainability Research Center, Elliot Martin, Ph.D., Susan Shaheen, Ph.D., and Adam Stocker to analyze company data and develop the report.

“The pandemic has given cities a chance to rethink city centers,” said Rabi Abonour, NRDC research manager, who joined researchers at the University of California at Berkeley on a brief summarizing the report’s findings. “Many cities are looking to hit the reset traffic button, and this report makes it clear that tackling congestion means rethinking Uber and Lyft.”

Drawing on driver activity data from Uber and Lyft as well as surveys of residents, drivers and passengers in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, DC, the report found that:

• Uber, Lyft Seem To Be Driving Global Increase In Driving And Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• Uber and Lyft reduce driving the most when they allow people to avoid buying cars
• Ineffective passenger matching limits the environmental benefits of bundled journeys
• Uber and Lyft are replacing more public transport trips than they are making

“New policies can include everything from encouraging cleaner cars and commuting to redesigning our streets to make it easier and faster to walk, cycle and take the bus.” , said Abundance. “With smarter rules in place, Uber and Lyft can play a role in the sustainable transportation systems of the future. “

To avoid increases in traffic and pollution resulting from Uber and Lyft, the report recommends that cities implement the following policies:

• Use fair road pricing to manage traffic and encourage public travel
• Redesigning the streets to prioritize public transport, walking and cycling
• Encourage or require Uber and Lyft electric cars and fund public electric car chargers
• Enforce fair labor practices to protect Uber and Lyft drivers

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NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international non-profit environmental organization with over 3 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world’s natural resources, public health and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York, Washington, DC, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, MT and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.