x
Breaking News
More () »

Supporters will rally to bring Uber, Lyft to Pennsylvania

It’s not your traditional taxi service. Ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft connect riders with drivers, all while using a smartphone app. Here̵...

It's not your traditional taxi service.

Ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft connect riders with drivers, all while using a smartphone app.

Here's how it works; you type in your current location and your desired destination.

Then, using GPS the app finds a nearby driver and within minutes your ride has arrived.

These companies are already popular in major cities across the country and now they want to operate in Pennsylvania, but doing so is currently against the law.

"Under the law in Pennsylvania, anyone who is providing transportation for compensation must have a license from the Public Utilities Commission," said Jennifer Kocher, the Press Secretary for the PUC.

These rides aren't metered and there are currently no rules on the books for how to regulate them.

Senator Wayne Fontana, however, is hoping to change that with Senate Bill 1457.

"We're sort of the trailblazer here," he said.
Uber and Lyft are already operating in Fontana's district, which includes Pittsburgh, on temporary licenses.

This bill, however, would create a new category for these types of ride-share companies, making it legal for them to operate in other places, like Harrisburg.

"If they come to other cities and other counties within Pennsylvania, they want to make sure that the legislation will be in place so that they can just fit in," Fontana said.

The companies are also vowing to follow the same kind of rules that have already been put in place in other cities.

"Nothing involving drugs or alcohol," said Lyft Government Relations Manager, Katie Kincaid. "You can't have a DUI, you can't have three or more moving violations in the past three years. So these are all measures that we take."

With only a few days left in the 2014 session, lawmakers are coming down to the wire.

Representatives from ride-share companies as well as members of the community will be joining lawmakers at the Capitol on Tuesday to let their voices be heard in their final push to get Senate Bill 1457 passed.

The rally will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Before You Leave, Check This Out