Uber meets with local drivers today as ride-sharing service eyes Chattanooga market (Chattanooga Times Free Press)
Uber appears ready to bring its technology-based transport service to Chattanooga, which brags that it offers the fastest Internet service for such apps in the Western Hemisphere as America's first "Gig City." ... Uber has yet to approach Chattanooga's Transportation Authority, formerly the city taxi board, to obtain city licenses required by taxi carriers to service the city. Chattanooga Police Officer Charles Topping said the city has not talked with anyone from Uber, although the city attorney's office is still studying whether the ride-sharing program by Uber would be governed by the transportation authority.
Cincinnati
Uber, Lyft must have permit at airport (Cincinnati Enquirer)
Uber and Lyft have never been allowed to pick-up customers at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport – and now signs have been posted around the terminal informing fliers about the rule. CVG officials released a statement Tuesday about the ban on the popular ride-sharing companies, just hours after someone posted a photo of a sign on the social media site Reddit.com.
Houston
City to allow ride-share operators at Houston airports (Houston Chronicle)
App-based ride service companies such as Uber will be allowed to pick up passengers at Houston airports under rules City Council approved Wednesday. The Houston rules are similar to those in Nashville, Tenn., requiring the app-based companies to build a virtual fence, get airport-specific permits and pay set fees for rides originating from Houston Airport System facilities. The companies will be responsible for the same fees taxi drivers are currently charged - $2.75 at Bush Intercontinental and $1.25 at Hobby per departing ride."
Las Vegas
Las Vegas cab drivers protest Uber (ABC 13 Las Vegas)
Just days before Uber heads back to court to fight to stay in Las Vegas, local taxicab drivers protested on the Las Vegas Strip. Dozens of cab drivers filed in a single line in the center lane of Las Vegas Boulevard on Wednesday evening. They want Uber to follow the same industry regulations they do.
Madison
Committee recommends tight regulation of ride-sharing companies Uber, Lyft (Wisconsin State Journal)
Uber and Lyft would face high insurance requirements, have to operate around the clock and be barred from using “surge” pricing during peak demand times if Madison City Council members regulate them the way a city subcommittee recommended Tuesday. One taxi official applauded the recommendations, saying they amounted to a good start in regulating ride-sharing companies, but the companies were far more critical.
New York
NY Attorney General Comes Out Against Rules That Would Limit Uber And Lyft (BuzzFeed)
In a letter last Friday to the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC) obtained by BuzzFeed News, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman took a formal stand against a proposed rule that would largely limit the way app-based car services like Uber and Lyft operate in New York. Schneiderman wrote that the proposed rules, as written, would unfairly limit competition. “From a competitive standpoint, these advances may lower the costs of entry for new for-hire vehicle services and encourage existing services to compete more effectively for both drivers and passengers.” The proposed ruling — which would prevent a base from dispatching a driver that was affiliated with another base (unless there was a formal agreement between the two bases) — would effectively limit Lyft’s supply of drivers to the 10 that are affiliated with the company’s base in New York. The one way around this is if other bases agree to allow their drivers to also drive for Lyft.
Philadelphia
PUC approves UberX for state, not Philadelphia (Philadelphia Inquirer)
UberX, the controversial ride-sharing service, won approval Thursday to operate in most of Pennsylvania, but not in Philadelphia. The Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission, which regulates taxi and limousine service in every county except Philadelphia, overruled its staff in a split decision, deciding that UberX can operate statewide for two years, if it meets requirements for auto insurance, driver background checks, and financial reporting. However, the order does not apply to Philadelphia, where the Philadelphia Parking Authority regulates taxi service. The PPA has been aggressively opposing UberX service, in which riders electronically summon private drivers in their personal cars.
Pittsburgh
PUC grants Uber license to operate experimental service (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Despite a recommendation from two administrative law judges that ride sharing company Uber be denied approval to operate in Allegheny County, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission today granted the San Francisco-based ride sharing company a two-year experimental license. The commissioners also granted Uber a similar license to operate in other parts of Pennsylvania, excluding Philadelphia. The vote was 4-1 with vice chairman John Coleman dissenting.
Portland
Uber Launches in Portland Suburbs, But Not Portland (OPB)
The rideshare app Uber announced today it is launching in four cities in the Portland metro area. They are Tigard, Hillsboro, Gresham, and Beaverton. ... Portland currently bans non-taxi ride services like Uber. But the City’s Department of Transportation says it is overhauling its taxi rules and regulations, and might consider ridesharing services in the future.
San Antonio
Council to discuss new rules for Uber, Lyft (KSAT San Antonio)
The San Antonio City Council’s Public Safety Committee voted Wednesday to send a host of policy recommendations to the entire City Council for discussion.The issue will be heard by the entire council on Dec. 3. The recommendations would amend Chapter 33 of the city’s code, which governs the local vehicle-for-hire industry. Despite multiple cease-and-desist orders, drivers for transportation companies such as Uber and Lyft continue to operate in San Antonio illegally. So far, seven drivers have received citations and several cars have been impounded.
St. Louis
One month in, Uber ready to launch UberX in St. Louis (St. Louis)
Now operational in St. Louis for just more than a month, Uber officials said reception to its Uber Black service has been positive. Furthermore, Uber Associate General Manager Sagar Shah said the company is ready to start talking about bringing its UberX service to town.
Washington D.C.
Free market advocates say D.C. is the Uber-friendliest city in the nation (Wonkblog)
Cities have responded to new transportation providers like Uber and Lyft in wildly differing ways, with open arms, or cease-and-desist letters, preemptive bans or legal blessings. If you're someone who travels a lot (or a lobbyist charged with navigating all these places), it's a little hard to keep track of who's in favor of these companies and who's not. So here is a scorecard, courtesy of the free-market think tank R Street, which has graded the 50 largest cities in the country on how how friendly and open their transportation markets are to newcomers like Uber and Lyft, as well as their traditional competitors, taxis and limos. By R Street's counting, Washington, D.C., has the freest transportation market in the country..
Wilmington
