Uber to launch in Huntsville Friday
Uber, the ride-hailing service based out of San Fransisco, is set to launch operations in Huntsville Friday at 4 p.m. Not only will the service be a boon for roving residents, there are already more than 20 jobs listed on www.simplyhired.com. The company received its business license in the city Thursday and, though a few last minute issues may stall the launch, it is set to begin zipping through town just as workers are heading home for the weekend. The Huntsville City Council approved a business license last week for Uber affiliate Raiser and last month passed two ordinances to allow Uber and similar services to operate in the city. “We were very excited to bring Uber here,” said Kelly Schrimsher, communications director for the city of Huntsville. “Uber has become quite the standard for people coming into town.” Schrimsher noted that Huntsville is an “international city,” which hosts scores of out-of-towners needing to get around. While she noted that it’s “too early to tell” what kind of effect the company will have on jobs or revenue, Schrimsher said it’s an excellent opportunity for people looking to make some extra money. Schrimsher commented that the city had worked with local taxi companies concerned about Uber’s presence in the city and added that there is nothing stopping local cab companies from offering similar services to consumers in the area. “It’s about consumer choice,” Schrimsher said. “And we don’t believe the government needs to get in the way of consumer choice.” Uber has come under scrutiny of late for its business model of employing private contractors to operate its pastiche tax service, which fails to provide health insurance or other benefits. Further, consumers have complained that rates may fluctuate enormously for seemingly short car rides. Despite that, the company has garnered wild success in cities across the country and may fair well in Alabama’s metropolitan areas, which generally lack adequate taxi services. Uber launched in Birmingham two months ago and in Montgomery January. “We’re looking forward to having the service here,” Schrimsher said, adding that the city encourages similar operations, like Lyft, to follow suit. New to Uber? Sign up and your first ride is on them (up to $15).
Uber in Birmingham does not mean rehashing old regulations, supporters say
Birmingham insists they want Uber, but the road is not yet fully clear for the popular ridesharing service. Despite assurances from the Birmingham City Council that Uber is welcome, demonstrated in the city’s latest video update, requirements the company must first meet all “safety regulations” could become a roadblock to Uber’s expansion in Birmingham. As outlined in a document to the city’s legal department, obtained by ALToday.com, Uber’s primary concerns include outdated insurance requirements, redundant background checks and excessive licensing and permitting in jurisdictions that regulate “Transportation Network Companies.” After last week’s Committee of the Whole meeting, Birmingham’s proposed regulations – required as a condition of operations in the city – are what Uber officials call a simple rehash of existing transportation codes passed in 2014. Those regulations continue to lump Uber in the same category as traditional taxi services. “The regulatory proposals we’ve seen thus far from City Officials neither reflect the ridesharing business model nor appear to be a serious attempt to bring this option to Birmingham,” an Uber representative told Alabama Today. “We’ve shared our position on three issues that we must come to an agreement on before we’re able to offer ridesharing in the Magic City.” At issue are several sections in latest draft, which reference the 2014 codes. For example, as noted on the second page of the draft, “Vehicles operating under the auspices of a Transportation Network Company will be treated as taxicabs for the purpose of determining all licenses and fees required under this Code.” That passage is directly at odds with Uber’s three central priorities, which they say must be addressed before the company (as well as rival Lyft) can provide convenient and affordable transportation to Birmingham residents. Coincidentally, the same three issues – licensing, background checks and insurance – are top concerns laid out by City Council President Jonathan Austin this summer. For other municipalities that passed pro-ridesharing regulations, including Mobile, allows a TNC to apply for a “master license” from the city. This permits drivers to be registered with Uber, not individually and separately with the city. Such rules supports Uber driver/partners, who see flexibility in hours as the most appealing feature of a ridesharing career. According to estimates, 50 percent of all Uber drivers in the United States average less than 10 hours per week on the road. Eighty-seven percent say that “being their own boss” is a significant factor in their decision to work with Uber. Requiring individual licensing would, in effect, have a chilling effect on attracting quality drivers. As for insurance, since most Uber drivers use their vehicles for personal business and not ridesharing, a majority of vehicle use is already covered under the drivers existing personal auto policy. Uber offers a contingent insurance policy – exceeding the state’s personal insurance minimum requirements – which protects drivers while they are active in the system, but not yet picked up a rider. Another obstacle preventing Uber’s full participation in the city of Birmingham is a proposed requirement for background checks, which supporters say is an unnecessary duplication of effort. All driver/partners seeking to be included in the Uber platform are already required to undergo an extensive background checks performed for the company by an accredited third party. Uber screens include Social Security tracing, a seven-year history of addresses associated with the potential driver’s name, and a criminal background check through national, state and local databases. Vendors crosscheck all driver-partners against the National Sex Offender Registry as well as public registries maintained at the state level, to screen for disqualifying offenses. Also, background checks include pulling the applicant’s Motor Vehicle Registration file. Uber and other ride sharing services believe unnecessary layers of city-sponsored bureaucracy only further hinders participation, shrinking the available pool of qualified drivers. Accepting Uber into Birmingham, the spokesperson says, requires more than a rehash of outdated existing regulations. “We hope that Birmingham follows in the footsteps of more than 60 U.S. jurisdictions that have passed pro-innovation ridesharing regulations, and supported the subsequent economic opportunity and safe transportation options that their residents deserve.”
