Apps Are Becoming the New Public Services

This summer, the car-sharing businesses Uber and Lyft will be able to pick up passengers at the terminals of Los Angeles International Airport. The mayor of Los Angeles announced this during his State of the City Speech.

“We have to make navigating the city easier for its residents,” Eric Garcetti said.

He also announced an unprecedented collaboration with the application Waze, which offers traffic in real-time using its users’ information. City Hall will enter its own information in the application, including, for example, when it cuts off a street due to construction or a filming.

Additionally, the mayor announced $10 million for subsidized low-rent housing. Garcetti explained, “Half of this money is being generated because, for the first time, we’re going to collect taxes from Airbnb.”

Uber, Lyft, Waze and Airbnb are private initiatives converted into public politics in Los Angeles. Each one of these businesses fills the vacuum of obvious needs in the second-largest city of the United States. Neighborhoods the size of medium-sized cities barely have housing options. Commutes to work are often 30 or 40 kilometers (18 to 25 miles) on city highways. No one can leave their home without thinking about where to park beforehand.

Of these businesses, Uber and Lyft have most influenced the city and give more direction regarding the future of the collaboration between government administrations and apps. Three years ago, Uber began its services in Los Angeles, promising a “more efficient, more civilized” city.

“It is going to be fun to change this city together,” said the statement of the company’s CEO.

In three years, Uber has become de facto in the Los Angeles public transport system. It turns out that the key was not to look for an alternative to the private car but rather embrace it without complexes and make it a public service. There may be governments that have the luxury to prohibit participatory economics. The megacity of cities does not.