New York City Uber drivers caravanned across the Brooklyn Bridge on Tuesday, to the company’s headquarters on Manhattan’s West Side and back down to the World Trade Center to demand relief from the skyrocketing gasoline prices.
The national average for a gallon of gasoline was $4.24 on Tuesday — a nearly 50% spike from a year ago and 17% higher than last month, according to AAA.
Drivers on behalf of the protest told the Post that they had opted out of city assistance and hoped Uber itself would step in and bring them relief. They want the company to charge New York customers a “fuel surcharge” and reduce the commission the company collects on trips.
“We believe the city is not regulating Uber as it is supposed to. Uber is taking too much money from us. They charge passengers crazy amounts of money, but it’s not up to us,” said driver Joziel Andujar, 37.
“The mayor and the city council can do more. They are just playing with the problem. This is no joke to us. It hits us hard in the pockets.
The caravan crossed the Brooklyn Bridge, to West 28th Street and returned to Lower Manhattan with signs bearing slogans like “Need Money 4 Gas!” and “Enforcement workers deserve a living wage”.
“I have a wife and six children. Inflation is so high. I feel rushed,” said Pedro Acosta, 54. “Our money is not going anywhere because of gas prices. We need a raise.
The city’s Taxi and Limo Commission said in a statement it was exploring options to help drivers.
“TLC is always interested in ways to support drivers, especially in this current challenging environment,” said TLC Acting Commissioner Ryan Wanttaja.
“We are reviewing fuel surcharge requests and look forward to having conversations with drivers and industry stakeholders.”
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