Uber, the ridesharing app company is applying additional pressure to lawmakers. The company is actively seeking grassroots support to operate in upstate/Long Island. In order to do so, Uber needs to pressure Albany to push through legislation, and they are relying on Uber existing app users to drive the initiative through. The more support for the grassroots push, the better the chances of Buffalo reaping the benefits down the road.
Another ridesharing company, Lyft, made a brief appearance in Buffalo and Rochester in 2014, but due to regulatory and insurance problems, the service was smitten. Those issues have since been addressed, but lawmakers are dragging their feet to come to a decision. Supporters of Uber have been pushing for ridesharing alternatives to come to Buffalo and the rest of the state, just as they have done in NYC.
“Thanks to investment in new technologies, cities and towns across New York State are experiencing a revitalization and Uber has the potential to build on that by bringing untapped economic opportunity and job growth,” said Josh Mohrer, General Manager, Uber NY. “We are hopeful that our State’s leaders will embrace the economic benefits of ridesharing and pass legislation that allows Uber to operate, resulting in 13,000 jobs created in just one year, riders being able to get a safe, affordable and reliable ride at the touch of a button, and safer communities due to drunk drivers being taken off the roads.”
Now Uber is looking for supporters to sign up and express their support – 350,000 New Yorkers/Uber app users (outside the five boroughs) have been sent emails asking for signatures in support of the Statewide expansion. The company is also sharing economic reports that show just how much ridesharing can bring to an economy. “Today we are unveiling a New York State Economic Impact Report, which projects that Uber will bring 13,000 jobs to the Empire State in the first year of operating, while providing access to a reliable and affordable ride to people like you,” one email reads.
Some of the stats that Uber is sharing include:
- Uber projects that its peer-to-peer ridesharing program will create 13,000 jobs in New York State, including 700 new jobs in the Albany region in its first year alone
- New York State driver-partners have the potential to earn a combined $80 million in net fares in just their first year
- More than 350,000 New Yorkers outside of NYC have already downloaded the Uber app, showing huge demand for Uber throughout the State
- Uber projects that it will facilitate 6 million trips in New York State in its first year
- Uber announces Statewide Jobs Tour – visiting cities across the State to highlight regional job impact numbers
“Uber also has the potential to make our communities safer – the platform has been proven to reduce drunk driving accidents in other states where we operate. Urge your leaders to support more jobs and safer roads for all New Yorkers. Sign the petition today.”
The decision to allow Uber to operate in cities such as Buffalo has reached lawmakers, but as of yet they have yet to reach a deal, even with Lyft and its allies driving hard to affect the appropriate change. The Governor has stated that he supports a statewide regulatory structure for the ridesharing companies. And Albany Mayor Kathy M. Sheehan said, “I urge statewide leaders to move ahead with ridesharing legislation that would allow Uber and other transportation network companies to operate in the Capital City and across New York State. Albany residents would welcome more timely, reliable, and affordable rideshare options, and Albany businesses would also benefit from more reliable transport options for their customers.”
It would be great to get support from local political representatives as well, but we’ll just have to wait for a ribbon cutting announcement for that to happen.