HOUSTON, Texas — Appearing to follow in the footsteps of Houston, Dallas officials may soon give transportation services such as Uber and Lyft the green light.
Last week Breitbart Texas reported that the Houston City Council voted 10-5 to allow Uber and Lyft to operate in the city, so long as certain rules–those already applying to taxi, limo, and shuttle services–are followed. Now, according to KHOU, the Dallas City Council will likely do the same.
During a meeting last week, City Council members in Dallas reportedly requested that all forms of transportation be held to the same standards.
Council member Jennifer Staubach Gates told KHOU, “I’m hearing that [consumers] like options. They like being able to hail a cab, and they like being able to use their app in their home.”
Preliminary plans would require Uber and Lyft to register each car with the city and obtain certain insurance policies.
The Dallas Mayor, Mike Rawlings, recently commented on the situation and said, “The marketplace is changing, and it will continue to change. We have got to be in a place where we let the marketplace speak to us and react appropriately.”
Uber and Lyft allow consumers to seek out rides using smartphone apps. They are then connected with a driver, who picks them up using a personal vehicle. Payments, charged through the apps, are made in cash. While the two services recently have soared in popularity around the country, officials have struggled to find a balance between supporting innovation and ensuring the safety of consumers.
Not surprisingly, taxi companies remain opposed to Uber and Lyft being recognized in the marketplace.
Follow Kristin Tate on Twitter @KristinBTate.
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