If you’re out and about in Portland on Friday afternoon and own a smartphone, you’ll have new transportation options at your disposal.
Uber will launch at 2 p.m. on Friday in the Rose City, just three days after city lawmakers approved a 120-day pilot program that allows transportation network companies (TNC) like Uber and Lyft to operate legally in Portland.
Lyft is also launching at 2 p.m. on Friday. The Oregonian first noted Uber’s launch time on Thursday.
Under Portland’s new laws, TNC drivers are required to carry a standard first aid kit and a hands-free phone mount. In a letter to drivers, Uber said it would reimburse drivers up to $10 for each.
Lyft, meanwhile, will be providing those items to drivers free of charge, a company spokesperson confirmed.
Drivers will also need a business license from the City of Portland. Uber provided drivers with step-by-step instructions on how to apply for a free license. The company also instructed drivers to a mechanic for a free vehicle inspection, which is required by the city.
The letter also listed “upcoming events” and included a time and date for the Portland Trail Blazers playoff games on Saturday and Monday.
Portland also requires drivers to carry fire extinguishers, but that rule won’t be enforced until two months into the pilot program.
This won’t be Uber’s first time picking up passengers within Portland city limits. The company, which has raised $5 billion to date and offers service in more than 300 cities worldwide, started operating without regulation back in December.
City officials weren’t happy about the unexpected arrival and proceeded to launch a sting operation against the company’s drivers. It ultimately filed a lawsuit against Uber.
On Dec. 18, Uber said it would temporarily stop operating in Portland to let the city revise its for-hire regulations. Under the agreement, the city said that if new regulations were not set in stone by April 9, it would allow Uber and other TNCs to operate with temporary regulations.
On April 9, the city requested for more time to iron out details in the regulations. Uber said it would wait until laws were in place before it launched again. Then, on Tuesday, the council voted 3-2 to pass the final ordinance.
The new laws set no restrictions on fares for both taxi and TNC drivers, lifting a requirement that taxi companies have followed for decades. There are also no caps on the number of vehicles or permits during the 120-day period for both taxi companies and TNCs, setting up somewhat of a free-for-all environment.
Meanwhile, for the past three months, Uber has continued operating in surrounding areas outside of Portland and gave drivers an extra $5 for each ride that ends in Portland since they weren’t allowed to pick up another fare in the city.
Uber has tried to enter the Portland market for nearly two years now. Lyft, on the other hand, had expressed interest in operating in Portland but mainly stayed quiet as Uber forced its way into the city.
Now, both will operate legally. The city is collecting data from both companies and will re-assess its regulations at the end of the pilot period.
