San Antonio’s city council voted Thursday in favor of strict regulations for ride sharing companies like Lyft and Uber, a decision that Uber has already said would force them to pull out of the city.
Likely, though, that is exactly what the established taxi lobby of San Antonio wanted. (RELATED: San Antonio May Driver Uber Out Of Town)
After deciding not to table the vote, the council voted 7-2 to enact the regulations, My San Antonio reported.
The regulations will require more testing and exams for drivers, something Uber has said is unnecessary because drivers already have passed those test to get a drivers license. Before the vote, Uber sent a letter to the San Antonio City Council laying out its concerns.
The letter says the regulations unfairly target Uber with burdensome costs and will cost drivers hundreds of dollars.
Ultimately, Uber warned the council that if the regulations pass they will leave San Antonio.
Josiah Neeley, senior fellow and Texas director for the R Street Institute, said that these regulations are supported by established taxi companies to prevent competition. He said even with small changes to the regulations, they will still likely be too much for Uber.
“Frankly, I’m not sure that they would be able to function in the city if they wanted to try,” he told The Daily Caller News Foundation.
Neeley said that this debate will come up again because the people want these services.
“It is one of those things where the public wants ride sharing, they want the alternatives,” he said. “I don’t think that the issue is going to go away.”
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