Birmingham Council postpones Uber vote as 5 councilors no-show
A scheduled vote on whether to approve new rules allowing ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft to operate in the Magic City was postponed Tuesday afternoon for lack of a quorum required to vote. Council President Johnathan Austin, Councilman Steven Hoyt, Councilwoman Sheila Tyson, Councilwoman Lashunda Scales and Councilman Marcus Lundy did not attend the meeting, requiring members to adjourn before hearing the ride-hailing item on the agenda. The Birmingham City Council was slated to take up an ordinance that would allow so-called ridesharing firms to set up shop in the city by next month, along with other issues. Council members Jay Roberson, Valerie Abbott, Kim Rafferty and William Parker were in attendance. They waited about an hour before telling an increasingly restive audience the meeting would have to be scuttled. The delay may push back the beginning of Uber’s operations in Birmingham until 2016. “It’s disappointing that Birmingham residents have to continue waiting for safe rides and economic opportunity,” said Uber spokesperson Kaitlin Durkosh Tuesday. “We look forward to the draft ridesharing regulations from last week’s Committee of the Whole meeting crossing the finish line next Tuesday, so that we can bring ridesharing to Birmingham in advance of the New Year,” said Durkosh. Some Birmingham residents took to the “Magic City Movement” Facebook page established to support Uber’s efforts to voice their displeasure with the councilors’ actions. “Collusion,” is what user Sam Lewis chalked it up to. “Everyone in the BCC ignoring the people’s voice on this extremely important matter deserve to be reprimanded by not receiving your vote during the next election.” Another group member, Kris Reeves, opined: “These people, who were put in charge to lead our great city, are holding us back. I constantly defend Birmingham, but things like this make it extremely difficult. They are keeping us the laughingstock of major US cities.” Planned votes on several road improvement projects and re-upping the contracts of city consultants also were casualties of the no-show. Council President Austin said the members missed the vote because “most people are out of town visiting family for Thanksgiving.”
Movement to bring Uber to Birmingham building momentum fast
A weeks-long organized effort to bring ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft to Birmingham seems poised to cross the goal line in the near future. An outpouring of public support both from citizens – including via “Draft Uber”-style drive on social media – had been reciprocated by elected officials. City Council President Johnathan Austin declared yesterday that the city “definitely wants” Uber in town. Mayor William Bell has also signified his support, and has agreed to an expedited process that will accelerate the drafting and passage of a pro-ridesharing city ordinance. A spokesperson for Uber confirmed the progress on Thursday. “Based on today’s conversation, we’re optimistic that City Council is on a path towards bringing ridesharing to Birmingham,” a spokeswoman told Alabama Today. “We thank Council President Austin for his leadership, and look forward to working with City Council on an ordinance that aligns with the nearly 50 US jurisdictions with pro-innovation, pro-consumer ridesharing regulations.” Negotiation with the Magic City’s municipal government occurred last summer as well, but the two sides could not come to an agreement so talks fizzled. Talks broke down along lines familiar to those who have watched the ridehailing vs. taxis political/regulatory food fight that has occurred across the country – background checks, insurance requirements and taxes. Uber recently staged a unilateral pullout in South Florida’s Broward County after commissioners there attempted to fold ridesharing services – with some minor tweaks – into regulatory scaffolding that governs taxi cabs there. Representatives from Uber said that was not fair, because their business model is entirely different. Back in July local businessman Bill Smith – CEO of grocery delivery service Shipt – started a GoFundMe page to raise money for pro-Uber advocacy efforts. The drive surpassed its $10,000 goal easily. Council President Austin said Wednesday he hopes to have the new rules allowing for Uber and similar services to operate in Birmingham within one month from yesterday’s meeting of the city Transportation Committee.
Birmingham supporters of Uber, Lyft start Facebook, GoFundMe accounts
A Facebook page supporting Uber and Lyft came online Tuesday and as of 3:20 p.m. Wednesday already had 2,143 supporters. A GoFundMe account which indicates it was created by Bill Smith, the CEO of Shipt, has raised $1,940 toward a $10,000 goal. Organizers describe themselves and their goal on the page saying: We are a group of Birmingham citizens and businesses that are standing up for the transportation options that we deserve. Ride sharing is a necessity to create a vibrant city that attracts visitors and businesses … it’s not just a “nice” to have anymore. People that visit Birmingham expect to just open the Uber or Lyft app and get a ride on demand. When visitors realize these services aren’t available, it makes them think very negatively about our city. For Birmingham residents, ride sharing offers a safe option to get around when enjoying the awesome restaurants and bars around town. With 750 million dollars being invested downtown to build six new hotels and thousands of apartments, now is the time to bring ride sharing to Birmingham! Funds raised will directly support these efforts. Efforts include lobbying, PR, and marketing. Rep. Jack Williams sponsored legislation supporting ride sharing this past session. When asked about the organic movement he said, “I am glad to see continued public interest and support for bringing ride sharing to Alabama. I am asked about ‘when will Uber or Lyft come to Alabama?’ multiple times per week.” When asked about the page, a spokesperson for Uber said, “Uber is not affiliated with this group.” UPDATE: The GoFundMe page has been updated to reflect today’s news the Birmingham City Council has passed an ordinance provisionally approving ridesharing to operate in the Magic City. Writes page creator Bill Smith: I am super excited to announce the Birmingham City Council just passed a new Transportation Network ordinance that will allow Uber to begin operations. This is a major step forward for our city. There is a 6 month review period, I feel confident that there won’t be a problem moving forward after the review period. Uber hasn’t announced a launch date yet, as soon as they do I’ll let you know. When they do launch, let’s all make sure to use the service as much as possible. Thank you for supporting this effort!
Despite delay, Mobile still looks like it will lead the way with Uber
Mobile City Council was suppose to take up a measure on Tuesday aimed at allowing ride-sharing companies such as Uber and Lyft to be fully operational within its city limits. The vote, however, was pushed back a week. Sources tell Alabama Today, though, that the delay shouldn’t be seen as a major setback because most council members are expected to support the most recent proposals. The proposed changes to the city’s ordinances likely will be seen as favorable to both ride-sharing operations and traditional taxi cabs. It’s a model intended to keeping the playing field level by easing some restrictions on cab companies while allowing ride-sharing companies to come in while still maintaining high standards for riders in both operations. It’s a big turning point for Alabama. A move by Mobile to allow such services puts it leaps and bounds ahead of cities still holding out and fighting on behalf of a dated system reling only on the cab industry, such as Birmingham, Tuscaloosa and Auburn. There have been growing pains in the regulatory side since Mayor Sandy Stimpson of Mobile welcomed Uber to town in June, but again the city’s efforts are commendable. In a news release at the time, Uber stated, “We want to thank Mayor Stimpson for his leadership and vision in bringing innovative transportation options to Mobile. Uber couldn’t be more honored to connect Southern Alabama residents and visitors with safe, reliable and affordable rides.” Al.Com later reported that city council members took issue with the legality of Uber operating, a point that prompted Colby Cooper, the mayor’s chief of staff, to email council members, “The reality is we are dealing with a scenario where technology is outpacing regulations, and is creating a lot of gray areas for municipalities across the country.” All signs point to a city council responsive to its residents’ needs and opening the door for business. Here’s hoping others follow suit. We’ll keep you posted. (Looking back, check out Will Lochamy‘s guest editorial highlighting some of the benefits of Uber and busting some of the common myths here.)
Huntsville moves closer allowing Uber, Lyft
Huntsville is moving closer to allowing companies such as Uber and Lyft to do business in the city after an ordinance to amend a chapter in vehicles for hire was introduced to city council. Multiple news outlets report the ordinance was introduced at a meeting Thursday. The proposed changes to the city’s vehicle for hire ordinance come after Mayor Tommy Battle asked the city’s public transit, legal and police departments to look at regulations transportation network companies face entering the Huntsville market. A spokesman said the proposed changes will make it easier for companies to meet licensing and permitting requirements. That includes a $5,000 per year license instead of a per vehicle license, eliminating the previously required chauffeur’s license and allowing companies to conduct their own background checks and vehicle inspections. Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
Will Lochamy: My Uber App won’t work. Can I get a Lyft, Alabama?
We have a transportation problem, right? I think we can all agree on that. Good news … there is a solution. In fact, Rep. Jack Williams has proposed House Bill 509 to solve it. I went to Montgomery to support it. Here are some thoughts; The Birmingham (metro) area is blossoming in ways that were unimaginable just a few years ago. It makes me proud. From what I’ve read, it makes you proud too. We should be proud. Regions Field, award-winning restaurants and breweries, The Civil Rights Museum, Railroad Park, Yellowhammer Creative, Birmingham Mountain Radio, and our newly found sense of community are just some of the very legitimate reasons for us all to be proud. We are not the only ones taking notice. National articles are popping up all the time that name us, formerly known as “Bombingham,” as one of the “best” in many different categories. There’s no denying that we are now a proud, progressive, educated, and scene-influencing town. So why do we continue to be the “last” in so many things? I might have found out when I went to our Statehouse this week. At one time (somewhat recently), I was the GM of the largest pub in Birmingham. It was my responsibility, along with every single employee, to make sure customers were not over served or ever behind the wheel intoxicated. It’s all spelled out in the Dram Shop Act (feel free to read about it here: Dram Shop Act). This was and always will be a nearly impossible task. Believe me, we tried hard. We took all of the obvious precautions, but in the end, it came down to making sure people didn’t drive. We placed Yellow Cab’s number all over the walls and called the number for them, time after time. Too many times, they wouldn’t wait or the cab just simply wouldn’t show. If we were lucky, we could persuade them to wait and take them home in our personal vehicles. It was a major inconvenience, but far better than the alternative. Now out of that industry, my new job has me traveling. While working in San Francisco a couple of years ago, a fellow employee advised me to download the Uber app. Out of the gate, I was blown away. This was Uber Black I was using. It’s the fancy Uber service that you often hear about as being top notch. It is. An SUV, town car, or limo generally shows up depending on your group size and/or preference. As I began working in Charlotte, I started using Uber X. This is the “boogie man under the bed” service they offer. The one where drivers use their own vehicle. That last sentence leads to misconceptions. A lot of them. People take this to mean any average Joe can open an app, jump in their car, and find people who need rides. This is far from the truth. Uber is the boss, the driver is the employee. They use their own vehicle, while insured by Uber and only after passing a background check. Every Uber ride I’ve been on has been prompt and courteous, the driver has had a clean vehicle, and I’ve felt safe each time. If any of these things fall short, I can give the driver a negative rating on the app. If I happen to be a jerk (which I’m not), the driver can give me a negative rating. Too many negative ratings for them, they’re no longer a driver. Too many for me, they won’t pick me up. I like that. I like accountability. So why don’t we have Uber? The public screams for it. Every other state in the South has it. There are more than a million Uber rides per day, but we can’t get one in our great state? M.A.D.D. has come out in support and the stats clearly show that DUI deaths drop in states that have ride sharing, but it’s not for us? Why in the world would we oppose what consumers rave about? The opposition (Yellow Cab and head of the Birmingham Transportation and Communications Committee, Kim Rafferty) cries fowl on multiple points. Let’s quickly break down a couple. Point 1. Safety. The word “rape” was thrown around more times than I can count while the state house debated HB 509. “Uber drivers are raping women,” was the narrative. The honorable state Rep. Louise Alexander (District 56) repeated that she “didn’t want to be raped by a Google driver.” Rebuttal 1. This argument is bunk. (So is the fact that someone that doesn’t know the difference in “Uber” and “Google” is running our state.) The stories of Uber Drivers being arrested for assault or rape are unacceptable. There is no excuse for this. At the same time, we need to look at the numbers. In 2014, as Uber was just blossoming, there were more than 140 million Uber rides. The reports of arrests are just a handful. With a quick Google search, you can find page after page of Yellow Cab drivers arrested for rape, assault, and even murder. This isn’t Yellow Cab’s or Uber’s fault. It’s a societal issue. You can just as easily find staggering numbers of arrests for teachers, Sunday school teachers, and government employees. This argument is flawed and can’t be held against Uber. Rebuttal 1b. This argument is really bunk. Think of the lives lost to drunken driving. Think of the lives that could be saved be people having multiple, reliable options for rides. This is the biggest point of this debate. Period. Point 2. This should be decided by municipalities. The one municipality in question is Birmingham. Its transportation regulations are proposed by Kim Rafferty. The issue here is that LW Associates LLC is the consulting firm for Kim Rafferty. The owner of LW Associates, Lou Willie IV, is the son of Lou Willie III who represents several cab companies. Look away folks … there’s nothing to see here.* Rebuttal 2. This is too big for
Uber, Lyft ridesharing in Alabama gets mixed reaction from lawmakers
Lawmakers can’t agree whether bringing an app-based ride-hailing service like Uber or Lyft to Alabama is a good thing. Just this week, House lawmakers declined to vote on legislation by Rep. Jack Williams that would have forced the companies to operate under greater state supervision. Legislators’ responses to the bill were mixed, according to reporters at the hearing, ranging from concerns over sexual assaults of passengers to the low proposed registration fee. That may not be surprising, since the public is reporting mixed views on ridesharing. Uber and Lyft are mobile-app based ridesharing networks. In a nutshell, they provide passengers who need a ride with a driver able to provide it. Passengers can use a smartphone to schedule a ride alone or to arrange to share with several strangers headed the same way. Riders in major cities worldwide are already using the service. Though both companies are privately-owned and not required to issue financial projections, Uber is projected to earn upward of $10B in 2015; Lyft is expected to generate $1B in revenue. Uber has already made several attempts to break into Alabama markets: Tuscaloosa, Huntsville, Birmingham and Auburn. Last year, Uber launched a social media campaign to rally supporters in Birmingham to the idea and block the city’s attempt to add regulations to their model. Hundreds of tweets using the hashtag #BirminghamNeedsUber showed overall support from would-be passengers. Birmingham resident Amanda Watkins tweeted “Friends in Alabama: If you want to have a good time in Birmingham and a safe ride home, then support @Uber! #BirminghamNeedsUber” In Wednesday’s hearing, Hoover City Council member John Lyda reportedly said that he was in favor of bring the model to the state, saying it would bring “choice and competition” to his residents. Former driver Harry Poole said, “When I was in Auburn, everybody loved Uber,” and that parents would often tell students to call Uber rather than a traditional taxi service. But some have voiced concern over Uber’s tiered approach to service. In an interview, Birmingham City Council president Johnathan Austin said that cheaper UberX version was problematic because of lower driver requirements and training: “We want Uber but With UberX you just don’t know because it’s a different model. So you could have a driver who might not have been trained, you could have a driver who does not know the city.” The company maintains that its insurance and training requirements help to ensure passenger safety. “All uberX rides are insured up to $1M per incident–twice what is required of taxicabs in Birmingham,” Uber officials said in that same story. “Drivers must pass rigorous background checks at the county, state and federal level before they are ever allowed access to the technology.” Despite the company’s assurances, there have been several reports alleging driver misconduct in Alabama and nationwide. The company’s launch in Tuscaloosa quickly devolved into a fight with city officials over ordinances that govern taxi services. Soon after that, an Uber driver was caught in an undercover sting and charged with ordinance violations along with several drug and alcohol offences. Uber and Lyft have also been the subject of lawsuits by passengers, with allegations including negligent driving, assault, and sexual assault. In fact, Birmingham City Councilor Kim Rafferty cited concerns over passenger safety in a leaked email exchange with Mayor Walt Maddox. In her email, Rafferty suggested the formation of an ad-hoc committee to work with ridesharing companies in and out of the state on a model that meets regulatory and safety concerns. “Change in the on-demand for hire transportation industry is coming,” she said. “We need to be not just prepared but proactive.” No vote from lawmakers on Wednesday could mean that – for good or ill – change is unlikely to come to Alabama in this legislative session. In the interim, Uber has taken another approach to attracting local fans. The Uber in Alabama Twitter accounted tweeted on Friday, “Though regulations prevent us from connecting you with rides in #Birmingham, we can still connect you with giving” with a link to have an Uber driver pick up donations and drop them off at a Goodwill center in Birmingham.
ICYMI: This week at the Statehouse
What happened at the statehouse this week? Glad you asked! Here are a few things you might have missed from week eight of the 2015 legislative session. •Sen. Cam Ward’s proposal to reform Alabama prisons is inching closer to the finish line. •Victims of domestic violence would have stronger protection under House Bill 320. The legislation passed out of committee this week. •A House panel on commerce considered a bill to add term limits, pay caps, and new members to the Birmingham Water Works Board. •Still no answer on whether ride share services like Uber and Lyft will be coming to Alabama. •Alabama finally has an official crustacean, thanks to legislation passed in the House on Thursday. That was the only bill to come out of the House before lawmakers adjourned for the weekend. Still no word on whether the queen honey bee will become Alabama’s official agricultural insect.
