LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Department of Transportation confirmed Monday it "temporarily suspended" Uber from dispersing JUMP e-bicycles after the company refused to provide the city with real-time data on its ridership.
People ride Uber's JUMP e-bikes in car-free streets during a CicLAvia event in Culver City on March 3, 2019. - CicLAvia is a non-profit organization that hosts events where people can bike, walk, skate and stroll on car-free streets. (Photo by Chris … (Getty Images)
According to a letter from the LADOT, Uber stated that it could not comply with the permit requirements as the company's policies prevented it from meeting the "mobility data specification," which would give the city information on how the bikes are used.
The specification enables cities to manage dockless scooters, bikes, taxis and buses.
"Every other company that is permitted in Los Angeles is following the rules," Transportation Department spokeswoman Connie Llanos told the Los Angeles Times. "We look forward to being able to work with Uber on getting them into compliance."
Uber's JUMP subsidiary has until Friday to respond to the suspension or request an administrative hearing with the LADOT's general manager; otherwise the suspension will go in effect.
Uber representatives declined to comment but provided letters the company sent to the DOT, saying it would take legal action if a compromise cannot be reached.
"It is patently unfair and improper for LADOT to place JUMP in temporary suspension and start a 10-day clock in which JUMP is required to decide whether to participate in an opaque process as to which LADOT has failed to offer any specifics at all," the letter from Uber reads. "We object to the temporary suspension of our permit in these circumstances."
The letter also described the department's action as an "eleventh-hour" review process.
Los Angeles City Council last year adopted a pilot program that regulates the number of electric bicycles and scooters each company can have in its fleet.
After demonstrating compliance with program requirements and meeting certain performance criteria, LADOT can allow companies to increase their fleet size.