This trend probably won’t do much for your faith in humanity: Around the country, an increasing number of ethically challenged human beings are faking disabilities in order to snag good parking spots, cut lines at theme parks, or just bring their dogs into restaurants.
Transportation
Gas Prices Are About to Hit New Lows
By Halloween — and perhaps much sooner, if the federal shutdown dampens demand significantly — consumers are likely to see the cheapest gas prices so far this year
How to Make Airline Tickets Less … Awful
A consumer group is calling for more reasonable airline ticket policies, including eliminating standby fees and allowing passengers to transfer unused tickets to other travelers — neither of which would cost airlines a dime. But don’t hold your breath waiting for airlines to suddenly start caring about being fair and reasonable.
Don’t Be Afraid to Share: Ridesharing Companies Lyft, Sidecar, UberX Get Official OK in California
It’s often been difficult for “sharing economy” participants to confirm what they’re doing is legal. But now we have a little clarity—at least in terms of the sharing of car rides, at least in California.
Guess Who’s Getting Some Pretty Awful Reviews: User Review Sites
The trustworthiness of Yelp, Angie’s List, and other “unbiased” ratings services is called into question in a new study by Consumer Reports. And the consumer advocacy publication is hardly the only one taking issue with …
California Regulates Ride Sharing
Uber, Lyft, Sidecar and other such services will have to comply with safety, insurance and licensing requirements.
Toll Roads Rising: Why There Will Be More Tolls Down the Road
We are living through what one transportation expert calls a “renaissance in tolling.” What that means for American drivers is that they’ll face higher and higher tolls on roads, and more toll roads period.
The New Ride for Orlando Tourists: Electric Cars
A new initiative hopes to turn tourists visiting central Florida into the electric car owners of tomorrow.
Automakers Don’t Have Enough Cars to Keep Up with Buyers
Car dealerships sold a ton of new vehicles last month, but they could have moved even more—if only they had more cars on hand to sell.
36 Years After Elvis Presley’s Death, Could the King’s Popularity Be Dying?
Long live the King? By some indication, tourist interest in Elvis Presley is on the decline—which would make sense given that fewer and fewer people with firsthand memories of the King of Rock ‘n Roll in action are around. Yet …
Cheap Flights to Europe Take Off: Flights Under $500 Round Trip, Fees Included
Travelers who recall the ’90s heyday of sub-$300 round trips to Europe (taxes included) haven’t been happy in recent years, when a $1,000 flight began looking like a decent price. Their moods may improve now that one of Europe’s largest low-cost carriers is expanding in a big way, with new routes and inexpensive prices that could upend …
Why Gas Prices Aren’t Soaring
American drivers have come to expect that strife in the Middle East equates to a spike in gas prices at home. It looks like we’re about to bomb Syria. And yet gas prices haven’t jumped — and analysts say they probably won’t. In fact, all signs indicate that prices at the pump will plummet, perhaps by more than 20%, in the months ahead.