Transportation network companies (TNCs), defined as digital applications that match potential riders with drivers in real time, will never substitute for a robust, high-capacity transit network and compact, pedestrian-friendly development in terms of enabling large numbers of people to move efficiently around cities. However, TNCs have been successful at providing safe, reliable, affordable connections to transit, as well as flexibility for more complex trips that require carrying goods, traveling with a companion who has limited mobility, and so on. This report focuses on cities’ roles in managing TNCs. It presents critical elements that cities should work to include in their regulation of TNCs to ensure that TNCs address existing gaps in transport networks while supporting preferable modes for most trips. These critical elements are often left out of cities’ approaches to TNC regulation, which have largely been reactive and responsive to specific incidents regarding safety, labor, and related concerns.
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