Janelle Irwin Taylor
With just two weeks until the 2015 legislative session, the rideshare company Uber is looking to drum up support from riders.
In an email to subscribers, Uber asks riders to submit their favorite Uber story.
“Have you used Uber to take a family member to the hospital? To catch a safe, reliable ride home after a night out on the town? To access parts of the city that aren’t easily accessible via public transportation?” the email read.
They are also using the hashtag #FloridaNeedsUber.
The idea is to show Uber is a safe, reliable and, possibly most importantly, popular alternative to traditional taxis.
“In Florida, outdated rules are threatening Uber’s ability to operate. Such regulations run contrary to the forward-thinking nature of the great state of Florida, and impede access to new jobs and the safe, affordable, reliable rides you’ve come to rely on,” the email continues.
The email comes as Uber and other companies like Lyft continue to battle state and local laws and ordinances that affect the company’s viability.
Taxi companies argue Uber is operating outside of regulations imposed on them to determine who can operate a cab and how much insurance each car and driver needs to carry. They say Uber carries insufficient insurance and isn’t required to vet drivers as carefully.
Uber maintains they do carry adequate insurance and all drivers are subject to detailed background checks.
Uber uses an app that allows riders to “hail” an Uber from their smart phone. Drivers then pick the rider up in their own cars. The app gives an estimated arrival time, cost and what kind of car will be picking them up. It also provides a photo of the driver and their first name. Cars are often luxury sedans like BMWs, decked out Hondas and Volkswagens.
The app stores payment information so no cash ever changes hands.
And Uber rides are often significantly less expensive than traditional taxi service. Taxi companies are being undersold by cheaper rides and nicer cars and continue to push lawmakers and local governments to ban the Ubers and Lyfts of the world.
Locally, Uber contractors have complained about receiving tickets from law enforcement for offering paid rides through the company. In Hillsborough County, a billboard even went up cautioning riders that ride share companies may not be safe.
