AND JUST LIKE THAT, THE TAXI CARTEL EXPANDS.

Anybody remember this? "[O]n-demand autonomous cars are likely to have surge pricing at levels that make Uber's rush-hour or bar-time tariffs look like Bargain Thursday at a White Sox game."  Those current levels are too much for at least one Chicago alderman.

Downtown Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) is proposing a cap on ride-hailing fees to rein in what he called “predatory” charges routinely imposed by Uber and Lyft.

At Wednesday’s City Council meeting, Reilly plans to introduce an ordinance requiring companies licensed as “transportation network providers” to charge no more than 150% of their “current regular fare,” even during snowstorms and other periods of high-demand.

The ordinance would require Uber, Lyft and Via to notify Business Affairs and Consumer Protection Commissioner Rosa Escareno of “each regular fare rate used” by the company for each class of vehicle and type of service. That includes both “black cars” and sedans, shared rides and solo trips.

Ride-hailing companies would be free to continue “surge pricing” when demand is high — but within limits. If the normal fare is $10, the companies could charge no more than $15.

That sounds very much like city government trying to turn the ride-sharing services into the cruising cabs that apparently were wiped out by ride sharing and the corona tyranny.

At [former mayor Rahm] Emanuel’s behest, the City Council allowed the ride-hailing industry to “operate under less restrictive rules” than cabs — without first obtaining livery licenses from the city, Reilly said. That allowed thousands of ride-hailing drivers to “flood the market.”

The competition worked — for a while. Reliability and service improved. Cabbies were “feeling the pressure from their rideshare competitors.”

>But, over time, Reilly said Chicago paid a price for, what he called “imbalanced regulation of the taxicab industry and the lax regulation of the rideshare industry.” Cabs “started disappearing from the road.”

“Then, the pandemic hit. With central business districts across the country closed for business and millions of commuters working from home, the taxicab industry totally collapsed,” Reilly wrote.

“Today, incumbent monopoly ride share companies have vanquished and replaced their predecessors in the monopoly cab industry. Once again, consumers have fewer options. The lack of city regulation over rideshare fares, combined with a lack of competition, has empowered companies like Uber and Lyft to dramatically increase their prices.”

Isn't the purpose of surge pricing to induce the casual participants in Uber and Lyft to fire up their cars?

On the other hand, didn't I warn you?  "[I]t should come as no surprise that transit authorities and taxi companies might make common cause to suppress Uber or otherwise incorporate ride-sharing into the cartel."