Portland Punts Uber

The city of Portland, Oregon, has filed a lawsuit to block Uber from operating in its city. According to the Guardian, Uber started offering its low-cost Uber-X service, which, it seems, aims to used unlicensed cars and drivers not licensed as tax drivers to operate the service. Passengers would hail the non-taxis with the famed Uber app.

Until now, Portland had been the largest U.S. city without Uber, the Gurdian says. 

“Our main concern is public health and safety,” mayor Charlie Hales is quoted as saying in a statement announcing the lawsuit. “Beyond that, though, is the issue of fairness. Taxi cab companies follow rules on public health and safety. So do hotels and restaurants and construction companies and scores of other service providers. Because everyone agrees: good regulations make for a safer community. Uber disagrees, so we’re seeking a court injunction.”

In some cities, such as New York, Uber and other services such as Lyft, has agreed to operate only with licensed car service drivers and licensed cars.   Elsewhere, the app-based services have come into town unregulated. 

The Portland lawsuit asks the court to confirm Uber is subject to the city’s regulations and to halt its operations until it is in compliance.