Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey joined several leaders from the hospitality industry and from the disability community to highlight the potential impact of Uber and Lyft’s departure from Minneapolis.
The mayor and his supporters are calling on the Minneapolis City Council to reconvene and pass an ordinance that’s fair to drivers but would also keep the two rideshare giants from leaving.
Chair of the Minneapolis Advisory Committee on Aging Angelique Kingsbury says ridesharing isn’t just a convenience, a lifeline for many who rely on it.
“None of the seniors I know really want to rely on public transportation,” Kingsbury said. “They don’t want to stand out in the heat, in the cold. They don’t want to walk out over ice. They want to be safe, they want their freedom, they want their independence, and losing rideshare is going to take that away from them.”
Beyond the impact on how seniors are able to traverse, the departure of Uber and Lyft would also impact the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport and how travelers get in and out for their trips.
Vice President of Operations for The Metropolitan Airports Commission Chad Leqve says the impact would be far greater than some suspect.
“Given the sheer number of people who prefer to use rideshare service to get to and from the airport, and the sizable portion of those trips involving locations within Minneapolis, it’s clear that if Uber and Lyft stop serving the city of Minneapolis, there is going to be an impact for MSP travelers,” Leqve said.
The mayor says the clock is ticking and that it’s time to start conversations with the representatives from Lyft and Uber.