NYC wants Uber to add just the tip
If the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission have anything to do with it, expect Uber to buckle under pressure and add in-app tipping.
A new proposal would require Uber to allowing tipping via credit card.
Uber is under new pressure in New York City to add in-app tipping.
On Monday, New York's Taxi and Limousine Commission reportedly announced a proposal that would allow passengers using car services that only accept only credit cards to tip the driver using their card.
New York City taxis and Lyft already offer tipping via credit card, but Uber does not. The company touts itself as being hyper-convenient and says one of the hallmarks of such convenience is letting customers have tip-free rides. Many Uber drivers, however, feel differently.
In February, an Uber driver based in Washington launched an online petition asking the company to add a tipping feature to all of its rides. The NYC proposal was prompted by a petition from the Independent Drivers Guild, a group representing Uber drivers in New York.
The taxi commission's full proposal is expected to be introduced in a few months. Uber said it looks forward to reviewing the proposal.
"Uber is always striving to offer the best earning opportunity for drivers and we are constantly working to improve the driver experience," said an Uber spokesperson in an emailed statement. "That's why, in New York City, we partnered with the Machinists Union to make sure current and future Uber NYC drivers have a stronger voice and launched a series of new tools and support policies for drivers."
Update, 1:15 p.m. PT: Adds comment from Uber.