[MN-at-Large] Rideshare Resolution

[David Andrews]

As you know, at our last meeting, on Sunday March 17, we passed a 
Resolution dealing with the possible loss of rideshare services in 
Minneapolis, possibly the Twin Cities and/or all of Minnesota. The 
Resolution has been sent to the Mayor, and the members of the City 
Council. Below is the Resolution.

David Andrews, President


RESOLUTION 2024-03-16

WHEREAS, rideshare services have become an important means of 
reliable, affordable, and efficient transportation for many who live 
and work in the Twin Cities and beyond, improving access to 
employment and other opportunities in our communities, particularly 
for blind people and others who do not drive; and

WHEREAS, the sustainable operation of rideshare services, now and 
into the future, is dependent upon economic viability for the 
companies as well as fair compensation for the drivers providing the rides; and

WHEREAS, the Minneapolis City Council recently passed an ordinance 
setting minimum pay that drivers must receive for rides in Minneapolis; and

WHEREAS, as a result of the ordinance, Uber and Lyft have stated that 
they will stop operating in the Metro area as of May 1, 2024; and

WHEREAS, the arrival of rideshare companies rendered the taxi 
industry virtually non-existent, and public transportation and Metro 
Mobility are not at all equipped to absorb the transportation needs 
that would go unfulfilled in the event of such a move; and

WHEREAS, without any apparent, direct negotiations with drivers or 
the city, Uber and Lyft have attempted to use their significant 
customer base as leverage, urging customers to communicate opposition 
to the pay increase; and

WHEREAS, the City Council enacted the ordinance and overrode a veto 
from Mayor Jacob Frey without any public plan to address the 
significant impact on people's lives that would be brought on by a 
potential departure of Uber and Lyft; now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED by the At-Large Chapter of the National Federation of 
the Blind of Minnesota at its meeting on March 17, 2024 that this 
organization call upon the Minneapolis City Council, the rideshare 
companies, drivers, and all others concerned to work together swiftly 
and decisively to find a solution for maintaining access to 
affordable, reliable, and efficient transportation in the Twin Cities 
and beyond; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization express its eagerness 
to assist in resolving this crisis in every way we can, to prevent 
the devastating impacts on many lives and livelihoods that would 
occur with a loss of transportation.


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