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New Research Finds Racial Bias in Rideshare Platforms: Minority Riders are Twice as Likely to Have Rides Canceled than Caucasians

  • 1.  New Research Finds Racial Bias in Rideshare Platforms: Minority Riders are Twice as Likely to Have Rides Canceled than Caucasians

    Posted 05-06-2020 13:41

    CATONSVILLE, MD, May 6, 2020 – New research to be published in the INFORMS journal Management Science has found popular rideshare platforms exhibit racial and other biases that penalize under-represented minorities and others seeking to use their services.

    Click here to read the full press release.



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    Ashley Smith
    Public Relations Specialist
    INFORMS
    Catonsville MD
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  • 2.  RE: New Research Finds Racial Bias in Rideshare Platforms: Minority Riders are Twice as Likely to Have Rides Canceled than Caucasians

    Posted 05-06-2020 14:34
    Edited by Abigail Lindner 05-06-2020 14:40
    These are unfortunate findings. A jump from 3% to 8% may not seem like much, but in these circumstances the difference is noteworthy. Even with advances in American civil rights in the past decades, bias cannot help but permeate the everyday - even, it seems, ride sharing. I wonder if the higher cancellation rates for URMs and LGBT-supporters are related to a negative prejudice against those groups (e.g. assumed greater danger) or a general dislike?

    I'd be interested in future studies assessing if the results are replicated in other cities.

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    Abigail Lindner
    Mathematics Student | Regent University
    Aspiring Operations Research Analyst
    www.abigaillindner.com
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: New Research Finds Racial Bias in Rideshare Platforms: Minority Riders are Twice as Likely to Have Rides Canceled than Caucasians

    Posted 05-09-2020 09:44
    Hi Abigail,

    We agree that these are unfortunate findings. There are a lot of issues to unpack in terms of how prevalent this is across the country or world and what the underlying mechanisms are. We have some ideas on how to answer some of these questions and are trying to find a ridesharing company that will work with us. So far we have been unsuccessful but we'll keep pushing and hopefully will be able to answer your question and others with future work.

    Best,
    Chris

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    Christopher Parker
    Assistant Professor
    American University
    Washington DC
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    Original Message


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