[Capchapohio] Dispatch Article about Uber and Lyft

[Shelbi Hindel]

Some of us have tried these  services and really like them. We do not want
our freedom of choice taken away. We have responded to the reporter and or
contacted city council. Please join us. These services were discussed at our
last chapter meeting.

Shelbi

 

 

From: Capchapohio [mailto:capchapohio-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Eric
Duffy
Sent: April 10, 2014 11:45 AM
To: Capital Chapter (Columbus, Ohio) Mailing List
Subject: [Capchapohio] Dispatch Article about Uber and Lyft

 

I encourage all those who can and have not yet done so try both of these
services. 

 

Whether you agree with the position of the city or not, (and I do not),
there should be a way to resolve the conflict. We need all of the
transportation options we can have.

 

Here is the article:

 

City suing app-based livery service. By Rick Rouan The Columbus Dispatch
Tuesday April 8, 2014 9:56 PM . The city has filed a lawsuit that seeks to
bar the app-based car service UberX from operating in Columbus. In addition
to the lawsuit, which was filed in Franklin County Municipal Court today,
the city attorney's office is asking for a temporary restraining order that
would prevent UberX from operating until a judge can decide whether to grant
a permanent order. In February, UberX and a similar company, Lyft, launched
in Columbus with promotions to provide free rides. Both companies use
smartphone apps that help users find a ride in a driver's personal car and
to pay for the ride using a credit card. The app calculates the fare, and
the companies keep a portion of the payment. But city officials have said
charging for the rides is illegal because drivers are acting as unlicensed
vehicles for hire, a minor misdemeanor. The lawsuit also argues that public
safety is at risk because the city cannot verify drivers' backgrounds or
conduct vehicle inspections. UberX representatives could not be reached for
comment. "Basically, we have confirmation UberX is charging, which puts them
in direct violation of the city code," said Amanda Ford, spokeswoman for the
city Department of Public Safety. The UberX app debited payments from a
checking account used in a city investigation at least six times, according
to the lawsuit. The city also is investigating Lyft, Ford said. "Once we
have what we need on the Lyft side, we'll move forward with them as well.
Both apps started operating this year before the city could finish
regulations that would require the companies and their drivers to obtain
city licenses. City officials have been tweaking the proposed rules, which
must be approved by Columbus City Council. The court filing does not affect
UberX's other service, Uber Black, which uses local licensed livery drivers
who provide trips in luxury vehicles. The city changed its code to allow
that service to operate. The local taxi and livery industry has argued that
the companies do not have adequate insurance and should have to follow the
same rules as other for-hire vehicles. Uber and Lyft have faced similar
opposition in other states as well. "Would you get on an airplane that
wasn't properly inspected? said Morgan Kauffman, who owns Yellow Cab of
Columbus. "There's no chance in the world, and there's far more car
accidents than plane accidents. rrouan at dispatch.com@RickRouan @Crawlumbus T

 

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