lyft66A Seattle City Council committee will delay a scheduled vote on one of the key elements in proposed regulations for ride-sharing companies such as Uber, Lyft and Sidecar.

In a message on Facebook, council member Sally Clark — Chair of the Committee for Taxi, For-hire, and Limousine Regulations — wrote:

Not that anyone is paying attention to this issue, but just in case you’re interested — we’ll discuss cap vs. no cap on Lyft & UberX cars in tomorrow’s committee, but not call for a vote. More time to get the decision right. Not that anyone’s tracking this.

In a follow-up comment, Clark said that they will likely vote on other amendments related to ride-sharing at the committee meeting on Friday, but will not vote on the issue of limiting the total number of personal vehicle drivers. (Editor’s note: This post has been updated to clarify what will be happening at Friday’s meeting).

A debate has been raging in the city in recent weeks over whether the new breed of companies like Uber and Lyft — which allow customers to request a ride via a smartphone and automatically pay for fares without using cash — should be able to operate in the city.

The City Council is currently investigating a plan to institute caps on the number of ride-sharing drivers that would be able to operate in the city, potentially reducing the reach of services like Lyft, Uber and Sidecar.

Many in the tech industry have argued that the ride-sharing companies offer a more innovative and convenient alternative to traditional taxi cabs, and that the city should not regulate them. On the flip side, others have argued that the new services should be regulated or curtailed, and that they should not get a free pass on regulations simply because they utilize new methods for attracting riders.

Previously on GeekWireWith ride-sharing regulations, Lyft president says Seattle’s leaders will look bad on national stage

See all of our coverage on the ride sharing issue here.

Like what you're reading? Subscribe to GeekWire's free newsletters to catch every headline

Job Listings on GeekWork

Find more jobs on GeekWork. Employers, post a job here.