Kenney passes on request to wade into taxi, Uber fracas

A coalition looking to put the brakes on ride hailing services in Philly is petitioning the mayor to step in.

He doesn't seem inclined to.

"Unfortunately, enforcement of this falls solely on the PPA and they are outside of the city's purview," James Kenney said in a statement Wednesday.

Members of coalition, which includes cab and limo companies and handicapped accessibility activists, attended the mayor's budget address Thursday and handed out flyers. After that they visited his office to meet with Kenney, but were turned back by security. They want to mayor to force ride hailing businesses like UberX and Lyft to cease operations by Wednesday, and to mediate an agreement between them and the Philadelphia Parking Authority.

"We want the mayor to require them to comply with the law," said Thomas Earle, CEO for Liberty Resources, a nonprofit focused on transportation access for people with disabilities. "We want a meeting with members of the coalition."

If the companies don't stop operating by Wednesday they may seek a court injunction, Earle said.

UberX and Lyft are operating outside the oversight of the PPA, which is responsible for livery services in the city. The PPA says it wants to the ensure ride hailing drivers are insured and vetted and their vehicles are safe. Uber and Lyft want the legislature to create the terms of that oversight.

The effort to get the mayor involved created a moment of unity between the PPA and Uber, though. Both agree it's the state legislature, not the mayor, who is responsible for making the service legal in the city.

"The Senate has voted 48-2 to extend ridesharing regulations to Philadelphia and we're hopeful the House will soon do the same," said Craig Ewer, an Uber spokesman, in a statement.

Martin O'Rourke, the PPA spokesman, said the authority is working with the legislature to craft such a bill.

Taxi cab owners and operators have tried lobbying, blocking streets for demonstrations and legal remedies, but ride hailing businesses seem undeterred and remain popular. Uber touts the number of 700,000 riders given in the city in its first year of operation.  The coalition petitioning the mayor is still planning to schedule a meeting with him.

"There is a role for the mayor to play here," Earle said. "We need him to convene a meeting between the parties and mediate a fair resolution and so far he's refused to do that."

The coalition is emphasizing the issue of disabled access too. As city cabs have become more accessible to people in wheelchairs, UberX and Lyft are a step in the wrong direction, Earle said.

"Lyft does not offer any wheelchair accessible service," Earle said. "Uber is trying to offer some limited wheelchair accessible vehicles but at a much higher price."

Lyft did not respond to a request for comment. Uber disputed that, though.

"By partnering with paratransit services, Uber has helped improve accessible transit in Philadelphia," Ewer said. "Riders with disabilities can get a ride in minutes through Uber, while they're often left stranded by taxi services."

The mayor's statement acknowledged that disability access was a concern.

" I will add that we're working with Uber to address the issues raised by the disability community."