Looks like Uber is prepping to play by Portland’s rules—at least for now.
The ride-sharing company on March 26 paid $67,750 in fines to the city, according to Dylan Rivera, a spokesman for the Bureau of Transportation. The city levied the fines in December, after Uber launched service without the city’s permission.
“We believe the industry is interested in complying,” Rivera said today. “Uber recently provided payment to the city for all fines, and we think that shows the company has an interest in operating with permits in the city of Portland.”
Mike Greenfield and Joan Plank—both members of PBOT’s Private for-Hire Transportation Innovation Task Force, the volunteer group that’s been trying to come up with operational regulations for transportation network companies (TNCs) like Uber and Lyft—on Monday afternoon spoke at a briefing to explain the task force’s recommended regulations for a 120-day pilot program (also referred to by organizers as “Phase One”) that will allow TNCs to operate legally within Portland.
“We believe this is an opportunity for us to compare two business systems, so that in Phase Two we can come up with a more detailed regulatory structure,” Greenfield said. “We’ll be able to learn more during this pilot program.”
The task force will present their 20-page report to commissioners at a city council meeting Thursday. Among the more controversial recommendations the task force will make include allowing Uber drivers to operate under different (and traditional taxi drivers say unfair) insurance standards and placing no cap on what Uber drivers can charge while restricting taxi rates to less than $2.60 per mile.
“The problem is that Uber can undercut our rates, too,” said Darin Campbell, a driver for Radio Cab who is also the taxi driver representative on PBOT’s Private for-Hire Transportation Board of Review. “Right now Uber is offering drivers a $100 bonus if they can get their cars inspected by Wednesday. We can’t do that.”
Uber in December agreed to suspend business in Portland until April 9, giving the city time to put operational regulations in place.
Portland City Council on April 15 will vote to enact some, or all, of the task force’s recommended regulations. A full version of the draft recommendations can be viewed here.
Please consider not calling it “ride sharing.” Uber and Lyft are bad employers getting away with treating their workers as contracters. Ride sharing would be for instance hitchhiking or carpooling. The Associated Press style guide has banned the term ride sharing with respect to either company and suggests ride booking. http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/2…
Or “ride hailing.” Which sounds Trekkier, perhaps.
Good point ^^. Was the driver going the original route from point A to point B? No, because they had no knowledge of the destination until the rider. So definitely NOT ride sharing.
Lyft and Uber are better than traditional cabs. It’s really that simple. And they are fantastic employers as far as 1099 goes. They give drivers $250 for a puker in their car. Like Radio Cab would ever do that? Please.
Give the PEOPLE what they want. If they want a cab, they can take a cab. Stop crying. Every other major city has this. IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
You are mad because taxiing is your full-time job. I will be Lyfting in my spare time. It’s fun and profitable. You are the slave here because you can’t afford a new enough car to opt out of your lame situation. Don’t make your choices my problem. We all know full well it isn’t about my “insurance specifications.” Further, you are upset because you don’t have to be “friendly.” It isn’t in the statistical nature of most cab drivers to be. People that choose Lyft and Uber are, in many ways, paying for more than a “cab” ride. It’s an experience. And you know that the younger crowd will choose us. Because we are relevant – almost like a social media. It’s like a Nokia that has snake vs. an IPhone 6 with instagram.
You can slow us down, but we will arrive eventually. And people will pick Lyft. Because Lyft is awesome. And it represents difference in a city that fosters that belief – that difference is as much necessary as it is fun. You are of archaic belief, culture, and technology. And you have fallen everywhere, ironically, other than what I consider to be the most progressive town in which I have ever stepped foot. Soon, though, Portland will recognize that it needs Lyft and Uber. Lyft and Uber are bigger than Portland and they don’t need Portland. But Portland needs them. They are truly a sign of the awesome time we are in, as much as they are a ride from A to B. And Portland deserves more than anyone to be a part of that time.
Oh come the fuck off it, Tony, you’re just driving a goddamn Ford Focus with a mustache on the front of it, not changing the trajectory of civilization.
@elgordo – I laughed out loud because I drive a Ford Focus. And I know I’m not changing the directory of the world. And I’m not an entitled ass. I want Lyft to function as a second income to help me pay down my student debt. Selfishly, as a driver, it’s a second income. As a passenger, I prefer it 10:1. And many others do too. So put the regulations in place and make it happen. End of story. It isn’t a life changing service. Sitting next to me in a car might even be terrible for people dependent on my food choices from hours prior. But we should still have the option to choose. Lyft and Uber aren’t changing the trajectory of the world. But progressive technology is. Apologies on being a rabble rouser. Is this more to the crowd’s liking?
Well I drive a tesla and I love driving for uber,, it is fun. I get to meet new people from all over the world and gett the true story of what life is like for them, not what big business/big government wants me to hear. One interesting and relevant story: I gave a ride to a business man from SF who knew many former taxi drivers that now drove for uber and that they liked uber better and made more money.
It seems to me the uber platform is much more efficient,
The taxi companies may be shooting themselves in the foot by wanting uber ttake care of handicapped riders. How about taxing all rides and putting the money towards subsidizing the taxiis serving handicapped rides A tech savoy company like uber could come up with software to take I to account demand, and supply and Iif demand was higher pay more if Low, pay less. In short there are many options.
Let’s all work together,get creative and
Uber on,