If changes to the city's strict transportation laws are implemented, the San Francisco-based black car service gets to start sending out cars in Miami. June 18, 2013 11:47 AM PDT Uber Miami's Twitter account. (Credit: Screenshot by Donna Tam/CNET) Miami officials have proposed changes to the city's limousine service ordinance, essentially allowing black car service Uber to finally operate within the city. The proposal would allow a "digital dispatch software provider," i.e. Uber, apply for a limousine service licence and wipe out a slew of restrictions that have hindered Uber's entry into the lucrative Miami market. Uber contracts with luxury sedans to provide on-demand car service, and limousine laws govern those operations. Related stories Uber cuts ride-share prices below taxi fares Cab-hailing apps get green light in NYC Uber cab-hailing app hits another legal roadblock in NY These include requiring a passenger to request a car an hour before the pick-up time, rendering Uber's speedy services useless, and pricey minimum fares and a cap on the number of cars licensed to operate. The law requires limos and black cars to charge a minimum fare that is more than three times the hourly rate of taxi cabs, a price currently set at $80, or $40 dollars an hour with the required two-hour minimum, according to city documents. The legislation is working its way through the city's transportation committee, but Uber expects the full city commission to review the law in the "coming months," according to a blog post from Uber: "This legislation makes huge strides to allow transportation alternatives in Miami-Dade County. This proposal, however, is designed around luxury services, and doesn't yet tackle lower-cost transportation options - (how about that sleek black Prius pickup for a more economical way to get around?!). We hope that in the future additional change will provide Miami with access to the full range of personal transportation services including lower-cost options." Uber CEO Travis Kalanick said the laws protect the taxi industry from competition, which means customers who want speedy luxury car service don't have the alternative. "If you call a towncar and it comes in 15 minutes, by law you have to stare at the towncar for another 45 minutes before you can legally get in," Kalanick told CNET previously. "If you get in the car before the hour is up, the car can be impounded and the driver can get jail time -- a lot of guys have jail time for this." The proposed changes to the law eliminates this wait time and lets the license holders or digital services like Uber establish the fare. It's another example of how companies like Uber are disrupting tradition industries. Uber has long wanted to operate in Miami, which has over $400,000 residents and a healthy tourism market. The company started tweeting from its Uber Miami twitter account in March 2012, with promises that the service would be coming to the area soon.
If changes to the city's strict transportation laws are implemented, the San Francisco-based black car service gets to start sending out cars in Miami.
Uber Miami's Twitter account.
(Credit: Screenshot by Donna Tam/CNET)
Miami officials have proposed changes to the city's limousine service ordinance, essentially allowing black car service Uber to finally operate within the city.
The proposal would allow a "digital dispatch software provider," i.e. Uber, apply for a limousine service licence and wipe out a slew of restrictions that have hindered Uber's entry into the lucrative Miami market. Uber contracts with luxury sedans to provide on-demand car service, and limousine laws govern those operations.
Related stories
- Uber cuts ride-share prices below taxi fares
- Cab-hailing apps get green light in NYC
- Uber cab-hailing app hits another legal roadblock in NY
These include requiring a passenger to request a car an hour before the pick-up time, rendering Uber's speedy services useless, and pricey minimum fares and a cap on the number of cars licensed to operate. The law requires limos and black cars to charge a minimum fare that is more than three times the hourly rate of taxi cabs, a price currently set at $80, or $40 dollars an hour with the required two-hour minimum, according to city documents.
The legislation is working its way through the city's transportation committee, but Uber expects the full city commission to review the law in the "coming months," according to a blog post from Uber:
"This legislation makes huge strides to allow transportation alternatives in Miami-Dade County. This proposal, however, is designed around luxury services, and doesn't yet tackle lower-cost transportation options - (how about that sleek black Prius pickup for a more economical way to get around?!). We hope that in the future additional change will provide Miami with access to the full range of personal transportation services including lower-cost options."
Uber CEO Travis Kalanick said the laws protect the taxi industry from competition, which means customers who want speedy luxury car service don't have the alternative.
"If you call a towncar and it comes in 15 minutes, by law you have to stare at the towncar for another 45 minutes before you can legally get in," Kalanick told CNET previously. "If you get in the car before the hour is up, the car can be impounded and the driver can get jail time -- a lot of guys have jail time for this."
The proposed changes to the law eliminates this wait time and lets the license holders or digital services like Uber establish the fare.
It's another example of how companies like Uber are disrupting tradition industries. Uber has long wanted to operate in Miami, which has over $400,000 residents and a healthy tourism market. The company started tweeting from its Uber Miami twitter account in March 2012, with promises that the service would be coming to the area soon.
