Suffolk On Board With Uber, Lyft

Long Islander News photo/Jano Tantongco
Suffolk Executive Steve Bellone announces Tuesday the county’s participation in the state’s regulation system for ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft. A be

By Jano Tantongco
jtantongco@longislandergroup.com
 
Suffolk is getting on board with the state’s plan to regulate popular ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft.
County Executive Steve Bellone, officials and representatives from the two companies made the announcement outside of The Paramount in Huntington village on Tuesday.

Bellone called residents’ access to ride-sharing services “a game changer” and views it as “another added incentive for talented and young professionals to live and work in our region.”

He added, “This is about transforming suburbia on Long Island so that we can improve the health and vibrancy of our downtowns, create good-paying jobs, and improve pedestrian safety on our roads.”

Uber and Lyft are already widely-used on Long Island, but not necessarily legal.

Funsho Owalabi, policy manager for Lyft Northeast, said the company has worked for the last three years to bring their services to communities across the state. He added that the services help locals make ends meet, reduce DUIs and build up local economies.
“Everyday New Yorkers overwhelmingly support ride-sharing services like Lyft to ensure safety on the road, improve local economies and help bring income to hard-working families across the state,” he said.

Ride-sharing services were targeted by both local and state officials last year. Huntington, like other Long Island municipalities, was faced with complaints from local cab companies and concerns over the lack of regulation.

Local municipalities ultimately took a backseat to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who penned a regulatory structure approved by lawmakers in April as part of the state budget.

On Tuesday, Cuomo released a list of the regulations.

Among them, passengers must be shown the fare or an estimated fare before the ride begins; a photo of the driver; the make, model and color of the vehicle; and the vehicle’s license plate number.

Drivers will face regulations that include a criminal background check; and enrollment in the Department of Motor Vehicle’s License Event Notification System, which tracks and reports traffic ticket convictions, suspensions, revocations, reinstatements and other events.
Ride-sharing companies must have an app in order to operate; pay fees to the state; provide vehicle liability insurance; and adopt anti-discrimination policies for all passengers, including those with disabilities

Some municipalities, including Suffolk, were given the option of joining the state’s regulatory system. Nassau and Westchester are currently mulling it over.

Huntington Supervisor Frank Petrone views ride-sharing services as a “nice complement to traditional taxi companies” and added that they prevent drinking and driving.

“Because their administration is not based in one specific town, Huntington has long felt the state is the proper level of government to regulate these services, and we support County Executive Bellone’s decision not to opt out of the state legislation,” Petrone said in a statement.

Some local taxi drivers, however, still aren’t satisfied.

Brian Henry, vice president of operations for local taxi company Orange & White, said the regulations favor ride-sharing services and create an uneven playing field.

“We’re not against fair trade, we’re not against Uber operating legally here,” Henry said.

He added that taxi companies like Orange & White, unlike ride-sharing services, face stricter regulations, including being mandated to maintain a physical location within areas of operation.
Henry said he would rather local taxi and limousine commissions be tasked with regulating ride-sharing companies.

He added, “We’re looking to be held to the same regulations that they’re held to, or that they’re held to the same regulations that we’re held to. At this point in time, it’s not that way.”