They weren't even bringing them up to the same level as taxi drivers; they were just requiring a livery license -- which is a rubber-stamp process in Austin and

They weren't even bringing them up to the same level as taxi drivers; they were just requiring a livery license -- which is a rubber-stamp process in Austin and again, is required even of bicycle-taxi drivers who are only allowed to work for tips. Uber and Lyft threw a hissy fit because it undermines their complete control over the driver ecosystem. Best I can tell, they're afraid that licensing drivers would cause them to expect to be treated like employees, while making it ever-so-slightly harder for Uber/Lyft to recruit drivers. IMO it's more about labor relations than regulation.