Portland Private-for-Hire Transportation Board of Review ...



Portland Private-for-Hire Transportation Board of Review

September 2013

Letter from Travis Kalanick | Co-Founder & CEO, Uber Technologies

When I co-founded Uber Technologies in 2009, for-hire transportation hadn't changed much in decades. The only way to get a ride had been to call a cab company and hope one of very few available cars would show up in the time promised. Fast forward four years: millions of citizens in more than 40 cities around the world now access safe, convenient, and efficient transportation with the touch of a button on their smartphone.

Uber Technologies does not own or operate vehicles, and we do not employ drivers, but our software connects those millions of customers with tens of thousands of licensed transportation providers and their drivers to increase their earning potential while making cities easier to get around.

I write today to tell you how excited I am about the prospect of bringing Uber's services to Portland but unfortunately, outdated laws make that impossible. I'm asking for your help to bring Uber to Portland, a forward-thinking, tech-savvy city. We want to work with you to champion transportation innovation here.

Portions of Portland City Code Chapter 16.40 are meant to ensure that "the public safety is protected, the public need provided, and the public convenience promoted" but, as written, impose extreme limits on consumer choice and small business growth.

As currently written, Portland City Code:

? Stifles alternatives that provide quick, comfortable transportation. Under the current regulations, if you request a towncar now and it arrives in 10 minutes, you must wait an additional 50 minutes before you are legally allowed to enter the vehicle. If a customer is allowed in the car less than an hour after requesting the ride, the driver could face steep fines and suspension or revocation of their permit. The purpose of this language is to limit the quality of service for-hire sedans can provide.

? Stipulates that the fee charged by a towncar must be substantially higher than the prevailing taxi rate for the same trip. By setting prices artificially high, Portlanders' ability to get for-hire transportation in and around the city is severely constrained, and drivers' earning potential is artificially restricted. Why should only affluent people be able to get a quality ride? Why can't a transportation provider offer quality service at the best possible price?

? Defines "executive sedan" as "a large expensive passenger sedan or full-sized sports utility vehicle." This excludes eco-friendly transportation options and limits consumers to costly, fuel-inefficient transportation options. This runs contrary to Portland's long-time goal of leading the nation in greenhouse gas reductions.

These outdated rules make citizens and drivers worse-off and prohibits sedan companies and drivers from providing quality service at the best possible price. We're truly excited about the future of transportation in Portland and we hope to work with you and your colleagues to ensure that Uber can connect Rose City riders with high-quality transportation with the tap of an app.

What Is Uber?

Uber is a technology company, not a transportation company. Uber is revolutionizing the way consumers have access to efficient, reliable, licensed and insured transportation. Like OpenTable for restaurants or Expedia for airline tickets, Uber is a facilitator of a quality experience, but does not provide actual transportation service.

Uber does not own or operate vehicles and does not employ drivers. Rather, the app provides transportation companies with the ability to fill currently unutilized gaps in their bookings while connecting customers to the highest quality transportation with the fastest response time.

For the cities it serves, Uber means faster economic development in both residential and business districts, job creation for small businesses and higher incomes for drivers who are, in turn, better able to support their families. This all occurs in a way that prioritizes quality, convenience and safety for consumers and adds new transportation capacity, particularly valuable for a vibrant city like Portland.

Where Is Uber?

North America Atlanta Charlotte Denver Honolulu Mexico City Orange County Providence San Francisco Washington, D.C.

Baltimore Chicago Detroit Indianapolis Minneapolis Philadelphia Sacramento Seattle

Europe, Middle East & Africa Amsterdam Dubai Lyon Paris Zurich

Berlin Johannesburg Milan Rome

Asia Pacific Bangalore Shanghai Taipei

Melbourne Singapore

Boston Dallas Hamptons Los Angeles New York City Phoenix San Diego Toronto

Cape Town London Munich Stockholm

Seoul Sydney

How Does Uber Work?

Customers create a pre-arranged reservation through the free Uber smartphone app. The nearest driver is alerted and given the customer's info and pickup location through the free Uber driver app. The Uber driver app uses GPS to collect data, which is then forwarded to Uber's servers for accurate billing and receipt generation.

ONE TAP TO RIDE

RELIABLE PICKUPS

CLEAR PRICING

CASHLESS & CONVENIENT

FEEDBACK MATTERS

SPLIT YOUR FARE

Who Are Uber's Partner Drivers?

Uber partners with drivers who care about their riders and have a passion for the trade. From insurance to background checks, every driver meets all local regulations. Rider feedback helps us work with drivers to constantly improve the Uber experience.

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