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- Coming to a city tow pound near you?
Be advised, fledgling Pittsburgh Lyft and UberX drivers: The state’s Public Utilities Commission says it is working up a plan to cite you.
This afternoon, PUC spokeswoman Jennifer Kocher told our intrepid freelance reporter Dan Sleva that the agency hasn’t “cited anyone yet, but we do have a plan in the works.” Kocher says the first citation for “operating without the certificate of public convenience” will be a summary offense; a second citation would be a misdemeanor.
The news shouldn’t be a surprise to those who’ve followed previous coverage of the newly-launched rideshare programs. When Sleva first reported last week on the companies’ plans for Pittsburgh, the PUC made clear it would take action if the services began operating locally.
Lyft launched here last Friday, and in the past 24 hours UberX also announced its own local launch. The company’s start began with this tweet on Tuesday: from @Uber_Pitt “Pittsburgh, UBER Has Arrived! Open up your apps, cause we’re live in the Burgh'”
As Sleva reported last week, when the ridesharing firm Sidecar opened in Philadelphia last year, drivers were charged with operating unauthorized taxis, and their cars were impounded. Sleva asked Lyft spokesperson Erin Simpson about what the company would do if the same thing happened to its drivers in Pittsburgh.
“We plan to support them,” Simpson said. “We stand behind our drivers.”
“We plan to make our case like we did with the California PUC,” Simpson added. “We showed we have a strict background check and higher liability insurance than the law requires. They [CPUC] created a new category for us.”
This article appears in Feb 12-18, 2014.
Is a car having a pink mustache and picking up a random stranger enough for a citation? I am 100% sure that driving with a pink mustache on a car is legal and also sure that the PUC will be unable to prove the rider being picked up is soliciting.
I have only had terrible experience with Yellow Cab or anything other than private taxi service in Pittsburgh.
I really hope these entrepreneurs can force some competition in this city. It’s hard enough getting around as it is.
It’s time to get proactive, people. Call your state rep and senator and tell them that Lyft and Uber are providing a quality of service that the incumbents fail to provide, and that the laws unfairly favor incumbents without providing a way for new contenders to enter the market with innovative solutions.
Seriously, PUC? I’m sure if they could, PUC would love to site any vehicle owner-operator in Pittsburgh for having passengers – provided that operator didn’t pay PUC registration fees and etc. “Mom, don’t give me money for gas…I didn’t register my vehicle with PUC. It’s only fair, mom – the Pittsburgh cab owner/operators do”. Seriously?!
Lyft is a brand new service and there is bound to be some initial opposition. Lyft is changing the face of transportation. To try it out for free, download the Lyft app and enter code 37PZ7Z for $25 in FREE lyft credits. You never know when you will need a ride, and like all other cities, Pittsburgh will embrace this new, convenient, affordable service!
Just like any other service provider that provides bad or under par services; there is going to be competition that seizes the opportunity to bump you out or compete with adequate services. Free enterprise is what drives this economy and is the foundation of capitalism. The hell with Yellow Cab & godspeed to those employed by them…cause times are changing and Pittsburgh won’t stand for subpar taxi services!!!
The term “Rideshare” should stop being used to describe the services provided by Sidecar and Lyft. The service they provide is clearly more similar to a taxi service and has no relation to traditional ridesharing like carpools or vanpools.
UberX, Sidecar and Lyft are dumping uninsured cars on the street.
http://blogs.kqed.org/newsfix/2014/01/20/ride-sharing-insurance-lyft-uberx-sidecar/
There are huge insurance implications. Ask Lyft who will pay if you are involved in an accident. Your personal auto insurance will deny coverage since your vehicle was used for business. You will need commercial insurance polciy to fully covered.