ORLANDO, Fla. – After more than four hours of hearing from taxi drivers and supporters of ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft, Orlando City Council voted unanimously on Monday night to approve the first reading of an ordinance that would allow the company to operate legally within city limits.
Uber said their fares are 30 to 40 percent cheaper than taxis right now, but the proposed ordinance would mean Uber would have to charge passengers 25 percent more than the minimum taxi fare.
"This ordinance is going to force Uber to double its prices in the name of giving Mears a city sanctioned monopoly," said Matthew Gore, the general manager for Uber in Florida.
But the city said Uber and Lyft operate differently than Mears and Mayor Buddy Dyer believes the rules are a compromise.
"(The ride-sharing companies) acknowledge they won't provide 24/7 service, they won't provide the American Disabilities Act and they can cherry pick what customers they want. The cab companies can't do that," Dyer said. "We are trying to set a minimum of $3 for the first mile and when you hit seven miles or $20 you don't have to charge more than that."
While both sides see this as a first step, there are still several concerns like insurance and passenger safety that still need to be resolved. Uber said they are hopeful to work more with the city.
"We've seen cities and states come up with modern ride-sharing ordinances that understand this technology can't be squeezed into a box," said Gore.
Dyer told Local 6 he anticipates there will be changes to the proposed ordinance, but won't say what those details may look like. There will be another meeting next Monday for discussion, but a final decision may not happen until January.