Uber and Lyft pull out of Austin after locals vote against self-regulation

Texan city rejects ballot which would have repealed strict new regulations

Ride-sharing services Uber and Lyft are suspending operations in Austin, Texas, after the city's voters rejected a proposal that would have allowed the companies to self-regulate their drivers.

Instead, the voters upheld stricter regulations that the city council passed in December: ride-sharing drivers are required to pass fingerprint-based background checks, clearly mark their cars with the ride-sharing company's logo, and not pick up or drop off their passengers in certain lanes of the city's streets.