Uber drops fares in NYC

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NY) - Uber is making it cheaper for New Yorkers to get around. The car service app just announced it is cutting fares in the city. But not everyone's happy about it, especially taxi drivers.

The app base service is dropping prices by 15 percent. Riders of course aren't complaining but you know who is: taxi drivers. They are now calling on city officials to step in. The cutting of fare rates that Uber announced overnight has outraged the taxi industry.

Taxi drivers with the New York Taxi Workers Alliance were outside Uber's headquarters in Long Island City Friday morning demanding Uber reinstate its fares and asking the City Council to step in and regulate the industry.

But New York Uber's general manager says the reason they decided to lower prices is to make it more affordable and assessable for riders. He claims his drivers will feel the benefits of low prices, too, because when demand increases there is less idle time between trips. That means more time with a rider in the car. Their drivers agree.

A trip from Midtown to LaGuardia airport it will now cost $37.12 Instead of $43.67.

Meanwhile Taxi drivers are accusing Uber of destroying the taxi industry.

But Uber NYC GM Josh Mohrer says the taxi industry doesn't like competition because they haven't had any for decades. He also said yellow taxi drivers are leaving to join Uber.

Uber decreased its prices back in 2014. An Uber driver we spoke to says she did see the benefit back then and is hoping to see more money this time around.