{"id":2155598,"date":"2024-01-22T08:39:01","date_gmt":"2024-01-22T13:39:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chicago-rideshare-drivers-looking-for-safety-solutions\/"},"modified":"2024-01-22T08:43:52","modified_gmt":"2024-01-22T13:43:52","slug":"chicago-rideshare-drivers-looking-for-safety-solutions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chicago-rideshare-drivers-looking-for-safety-solutions\/","title":{"rendered":"Chicago rideshare drivers seeking safety solutions"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">12<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fchicago-rideshare-drivers-looking-for-safety-solutions%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2155598&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Chicago Gig Alliance Demands Action to Address Rideshare Driver Robberies<\/h2>\n<p>The recent surge in\u200c rideshare driver robberies on Chicago&#8217;s West Side has sparked outrage and concern \u200damong drivers and organizers.\u200d Lori \u2064Simmons, a leading figure in\u2063 the Chicago Gig\u200d Alliance, is spearheading the movement to demand action from city officials.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s truly terrifying,&#8221; Simmons expressed to The Center Square. \u2063&#8221;Having been \u2063a full-time rideshare driver for five years and still\u2062 working part-time, I know many people who rely on this job. \u2064It&#8217;s disheartening to see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mccarthy-biden-exacerbating-border-crisis-by-canceling-migrant-protection-protocols\/\" title=\"McCarthy: Biden Exacerbating Border Crisis by Canceling Migrant Protection Protocols\">individuals taking advantage<\/a> of the platform&#8217;s vulnerabilities and the \u2062inherent dangers of the job.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Simmons believes\u2064 that much of\u2064 the danger stems from\u2062 the lack of information drivers have about their passengers. Unlike traditional taxi services, rideshare drivers are \u200cnot required to \u200cknow the legal names of their passengers \u2063or have \u200daccess to their photos.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;We \u200chave\u2063 no\u200d idea \u200cwho will step into our cars,\u200c making it easy\u2064 for someone to exploit the situation. They\u200d can use fake names or simply approach a rideshare vehicle and the driver won&#8217;t suspect a thing,&#8221;\u2064 Simmons explained. &#8220;I&#8217;ve \u2062been\u2062 trying \u2062to gather more information from\u2064 the\u200d police about these incidents, \u2063but they \u200bseem reluctant to discuss it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The\u200c Chicago Police Department issued a \u2062community\u200c alert, highlighting that all \u2062the \u2063attacks \u2063occurred while drivers \u2063were either \u200bpicking up or\u2062 dropping off passengers.\u2064 The same area has also witnessed \u200bthe tragic deaths of two rideshare drivers. \u200cIn a recent incident, a driver was shot in the\u200b chest and critically\u2064 injured during \u200can\u200c attempted \u200crobbery in the Austin neighborhood.<\/p>\n<p>The Chicago Gig Alliance has been \u200cadvocating for policies that prioritize driver safety, including the\u2062 Chicago Rideshare Living \u2064Wage and \u2062Safety Ordinance. \u200cThis ordinance aims\u2064 to increase wages and\u2062 provide greater job security for rideshare drivers.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;We are collaborating with the city of Chicago to find ways to mitigate the dangers of this job,&#8221; Simmons stated. &#8220;At\u2062 the very least, rideshare companies should conduct thorough background checks on their users. We\u2063 may not have control over what happens outside the vehicle, but we deserve to \u200dfeel safe from robbery or\u2064 harm \u2064by our own\u2062 passengers.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Simmons emphasized the importance\u200c of implementing measures such as passenger ID requirements and providing drivers with photos of their \u2064passengers. She also \u200dhighlighted the facial recognition process \u2063that drivers must undergo multiple \u2064times during their \u2063shifts to verify \u200dtheir identity and use the rideshare \u200capp.<\/p>\n<p>With the new administration of Mayor Brandon\u2063 Johnson, Simmons is hopeful for change. The \u2064Chicago Gig Alliance was\u200b recently\u200d invited to\u200b participate in a hearing where a committee of \u2064rideshare\u200b drivers,\u2062 mail \u200ccarriers, and bus drivers worked \u200bon\u2063 developing \u200csafety solutions.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;Previously, we struggled to engage with mayors, but with the new administration, we are grateful for the opportunity to be involved,&#8221; Simmons shared. &#8220;While we are still in the early \u200bstages, \u200dI have hope that we can find solutions to make drivers safer.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How does the Chicago Gig Alliance propose to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/woman-riding-lawnmower-struck-and-killed-by-wing-of-airplane-in-oklahoma\/\" title=\"Woman on lawnmower killed by airplane wing in Oklahoma.\">enhance safety measures<\/a> for rideshare drivers through a photo verification system<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Ctant to\u200b share any details with us. It&#8217;s frustrating and it leaves us feeling even more vulnerable.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>In response \u200bto the increasing concerns, the Chicago Gig Alliance is demanding\u2063 several\u200d actions to address the issue. Firstly, they are calling\u2063 for a more comprehensive screening process for rideshare passengers. This includes requesting\u200b that rideshare companies implement stricter identification verification measures, such as requiring passengers to provide a valid ID before being able to use the service.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, the \u200calliance is urging city officials to collaborate with rideshare \u2064companies to develop a system that \u2062would allow drivers to\u2064 have access to \u200ctheir passengers&#8217; photos before picking them up. &#8220;A simple photo verification system, where drivers can match\u200b their passenger&#8217;s photo with their ID, would enhance safety measures significantly,&#8221; Simmons stated.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, the Chicago Gig Alliance is advocating for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrat-jamaal-bowman-pushes-defunding-police-after-requesting-special-police-protection-at-his-home\/\" title=\"Democrat Jamaal Bowman Pushes Defunding Police After Requesting Special Police Protection At His Home\">increased police presence<\/a> and patrols in areas with high instances of \u2063rideshare driver robberies. This would not only provide a deterrent for potential criminals\u200d but also offer a sense of security to \u2063the drivers\u2062 who frequent those areas.<\/p>\n<p>Simmons emphasized that this issue is not only a concern for rideshare drivers but for the entire community. &#8220;When drivers are targeted and robbed, it disrupts the entire \u2062transportation system. It affects people&#8217;s livelihoods and safety,&#8221; she explained. &#8220;By addressing this problem, we can create a\u200c safer environment for all residents of \u200bChicago.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The \u200bChicago Gig Alliance is urging city officials to take immediate action to \u2063address these concerns. They are requesting meetings with representatives from the mayor&#8217;s office, rideshare companies, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/oregon-governor-encourages-people-to-call-police-on-neighbors-violating-covid-orders\/\" title=\"Oregon Governor Encourages People To Call Police On Neighbors Violating COVID Orders\">law enforcement agencies<\/a> to discuss\u2063 potential solutions \u2062and implement \u2064necessary\u2062 changes.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;We cannot continue \u2062to ignore these mounting incidents,&#8221; Simmons warned.\u200b &#8220;It&#8217;s time for action. \u2064We need stronger measures \u2064to protect rideshare drivers and ensure the safety of our communities.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>As the rideshare\u200d industry \u200ccontinues to grow and evolve, it is crucial for cities like Chicago to address the safety\u2062 concerns that come \u2062along with it. By listening to the\u200b demands of organizations\u2063 like the Chicago Gig\u2062 Alliance\u2063 and working together with all stakeholders involved, the city has the opportunity to create a safer and more secure environment for rideshare drivers and passengers alike.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Chicago Gig Alliance organizer Lori Simmons is urging city officials to address the surge in rideshare driver robberies on the West Side. Simmons expressed her concern, stating, &#8220;It&#8217;s truly frightening.&#8221; Following a community alert by authorities, she emphasized the need for action<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2740,"featured_media":2155599,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2155598","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2155598","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2740"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2155598"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2155598\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2155599"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2155598"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2155598"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2155598"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}