Yelowsoft Introduces the "Surge Pricing Fairness Index" to Advance Transparency in Ride Pricing

New research examines how surge pricing is applied across transport services, calling for clearer standards to protect passengers and support ethical pricing practices.

New York, United States | January 2026

Yelowsoft today announced the release of the Surge Pricing Fairness Index, an independent research initiative designed to assess how surge pricing is implemented across taxi and ride services and to promote greater transparency, fairness, and accountability in dynamic pricing models.

The index analyzes pricing behavior during peak demand periods and evaluates how clearly passengers are informed about fare changes. It also examines the operational pressures faced by transport providers and the regulatory concerns emerging as surge pricing becomes more common across urban mobility.

"Dynamic pricing is not inherently unfair, but opacity is," said Abrez Shaikh, Product Head at Yelowsoft. "The goal of the Surge Pricing Fairness Index is to bring clarity to how surge pricing is applied, communicated, and governed, so both passengers and operators understand what is happening and why."

Why surge pricing is under scrutiny

As cities grow and on-demand transport usage increases, surge pricing has become a focal point for regulators and consumer advocacy groups. Passengers often report confusion around fare spikes, while policymakers struggle to distinguish between legitimate demand-based pricing and practices that feel unpredictable or exploitative.

The research highlights that the issue is not surge pricing itself, but inconsistent communication, unclear thresholds, and lack of auditability. In the absence of transparency, trust erodes quickly, even when pricing mechanisms are technically justified.

What the Surge Pricing Fairness Index examines

The index evaluates surge pricing practices across several dimensions, including:

Transparency: How clearly fare changes are communicated before booking

Predictability: Whether pricing behavior follows defined and explainable patterns

Auditability: The ability to trace pricing decisions after the fact

Consumer clarity: How well passengers understand why prices change

Regulatory alignment: Compatibility with emerging consumer protection frameworks

Rather than ranking companies, the index is designed to highlight systemic patterns and identify where clearer standards are needed.

Implications for regulators and operators

The report suggests that ethical surge pricing depends on visibility and governance, not just algorithms. Regulators require clearer insight into how prices are determined, while operators benefit from systems that can explain pricing decisions during audits or disputes.

By treating surge pricing as a policy and trust issue, not only a revenue lever, transport providers can balance operational sustainability with public confidence.

Expected impact

Yelowsoft expects the Surge Pricing Fairness Index to contribute to national and international discussions on transport pricing ethics. The company anticipates engagement from regulators, policy forums, and mobility startups seeking guidance on responsible pricing practices in on-demand transport.

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Yelowsoft is a US-registered transport software provider supporting taxi and mobility businesses with tools for booking, dispatch, payments, and operational governance. Yelowsoft works with operators across multiple regions to enable scalable, compliant, and transparent transport operations.

This release was published on openPR.