Matt Schellenberg: taxis should ditch medallions, introduce their own apps like Uber

Uber messenger

Despite a somewhat stalled process over vehicle inspections and background checks, the man heading up the regulatory argument in Jacksonville over Uber and Lyft says progress is hopefully imminent.

I think where we’re going is a good place,” says City Councilman Matt Schellenberg. Schellenberg chairs the council’s Vehicles for Hire committee.

“We hope to get something out of committee in the next week or two,” he told WJCT.

Months of back-and-forth between the Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) like Uber and Lyft, and the taxicab companies, have as yet not brought a resolution or agreement on a basic regulatory framework for the sector that’s deemed fair to all parties.

Cab companies argue they’re at a competitive disadvantage in the market, forced to field medallions, carry higher insurance, and undergo more rigorous inspections.

Schellenberg doesn’t disagree, but is also suggesting they blow up their business model to compete with app-based digital ridesharing firms.

“A medallion is just a way for the city to get some money. There’s no reason why we do actually have this system,” he said.

“Because the world is changing. And we’ve got to try to keep up with the dynamics of this industry changing so quickly. The world is changing faster than we can get something done. Taxicab companies should all get together and get an app to compete against Uber.”

 

 

 

 

Melissa Ross

In addition to her work writing for Florida Politics, Melissa Ross also hosts and produces WJCT’s First Coast Connect, the Jacksonville NPR/PBS station’s flagship local call-in public affairs radio program. The show has won four national awards from Public Radio News Directors Inc. (PRNDI). First Coast Connect was also recognized in 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014 as Best Local Radio Show by Folio Weekly’s “Best Of Jax” Readers Poll and Melissa has also been recognized as Folio Weekly’s Best Local Radio Personality. As executive producer of The 904: Shadow on the Sunshine State, Melissa and WJCT received an Emmy in the “Documentary” category at the 2011 Suncoast Emmy Awards. The 904 examined Jacksonville’s status as Florida’s murder capital. During her years in broadcast television, Melissa picked up three additional Emmys for news and feature reporting. Melissa came to WJCT in 2009 with 20 years of experience in broadcasting, including stints in Cincinnati, Chicago, Orlando and Jacksonville. Married with two children, Melissa is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism/Communications. She can be reached at [email protected].



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