Uber, Lyft cruise past regulation in Kentucky
Ridesharing programs Uber and Lyft have been shuttling people around Louisville since Kentucky Derby week, and as the two expand in the state, so does scrutiny into how they fit into state transportation regulations.
According to Uber’s terms and conditions, “the company does not provide transportation services, and the company is not a transportation carrier.” It has not been subject to the same regulations as a traditional cab company. In Kentucky, cab companies require drivers to have taxi driving permits and a commercial license, get vehicle inspections and follow other safety mandates.
The competing California-based ride-sharing companies exist as phone apps, allowing users to drop a GPS marker in the app on their mobile device that connects them with a driver contracted by Uber or Lyft. Once picked up in the driver’s personal car, users are shuttled to a destination confirmed in the app.