D.C. Council Clears Way for Ridesharing Operations in the City

• October 29, 2014
• 2 Comments

by Lark Turner

The D.C. Council passed a bill on Tuesday legalizing ridesharing services like Uber X, Sidecar and Lyft. The bill was introduced a year ago by Councilmembers Mary Cheh and David Grosso, and now awaits Mayor Vincent Gray’s signature.

Cab drivers objected to the vote with a late-morning protest.

The Vehicle for Hire Innovation Amendment Act of 2014 implements certain requirements for the ride-sharing drivers, who will have to carry a certain amount of insurance while they’re transporting passengers and be subjected to background checks, among other requirements.

In a news release, Uber called the passage of the legislation a win for the company, which has faced significant hurdles to legal operation thanks to widespread opposition to the service from taxicab companies and unions.

“With this legislation, D.C. has become a trailblazer in the transportation industry by embracing innovation, supporting consumer choice and empowering small business owners,” the company wrote.

This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/city_council_clears_way_for_uber_x_operation_in_dc/9157

2 Comments

1. Susah Roberts said at 4:13 am on Thursday October 30, 2014:
   You can use the "ARINAO" and get a free $30 ride on Uber.

1. Susah Roberts said at 12:26 am on Friday October 31, 2014:
   This promo code works too. It gets you $30 off the first ride with Uber: "UBERFREERIDERUBER"