Taxi drivers in Portland are gathering in the city’s “living room” today for a protest to voice concerns about how on-demand startups like Uber will be regulated.
Five taxi companies that make up the new Transportation Fairness Alliance are parking their cars at Pioneer Courthouse Square in the heart of downtown Portland this afternoon in hopes of signaling their displeasure to city officials who are developing new laws for companies like Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar.
Portland cabbies protest Uber @thesquarepdx pic.twitter.com/7l83CKqMdE
— Stephen V Schneider (@urbanpriestpdx) January 13, 2015
https://twitter.com/PDXbyTAXI/status/555121166587666432
As The Oregonian notes, taxi drivers are worried that they will be governed by different rules than that of Uber. They are also angry because the drivers say they’re being left out of the task force that was set up by Commissioner Steve Novick to draft regulations for the so-called transportation network companies after Uber agreed to leave town for three months starting in December. For what it’s worth, Uber was also not included in the task force.
On Dec. 5, Uber surprisingly launched in Portland, much to the disdain of Mayor Charlie Hales and other city leaders. As it operated for two weeks, the city launched a sting operation against the company’s drivers and issued a cease-and-desist order. Portland eventually filed a lawsuit against Uber for conducting business without the proper permits (there are 460 available for taxis in Portland).
The two sides reached an agreement on Dec. 18, as Uber suspended operations in Portland while continuing to provide service in four surrounding cities. If new regulations are not set in stone by April 9, the City said it will allow Uber and other competitors to operate with temporary regulations while they iron out a long-term solution.
