New York City forces Uber to add tipping option to its app

The popular ride-hailing app Uber doesn't add a tip to its app.

Now, New York City's taxi and black car regulator plan to force the Uber technologies to add a tipping feature to its app by July 2017.

The drivers also have long complained that Uber has resisted such a move, even other ride-hailing company offer a tipping feature from its app.

The Independent Driver Guide, which formed last May, there is a coalition of 50,000 drivers for companies like Uber, Lyft, and Juno. It said tipping is a top concern among its drivers.

Lyft has supported tipping since its early days and in the month of March, the company said Lyft drivers had earned more than $200 million in tips. But Uber has repeatedly refused to include this option, citing a “hassle-free” experience that’s better for both drivers and riders.

IDG raised the concern with Uber in June. After making no headway, it proposed a petition to the TLC in February to try to force Uber’s hand.

The driver guild had made tipping priority in recent month and pushed New York City regular to take such action. After the group said the rule could mention $300 million additional income for Uber drivers in New York each year.

The founder of Independent Drivers Guide, James Conigliaro Jr., said that allowing drivers to earn tips would help them make a decent living after Uber had in recent years reduced the driver rate in New York.

Meera Joshi, the city's taxi commissioner framed a final decision as a way to improve the life of the Professional drivers in Uber.