Ride-Sharing Services Should Be Given Green Light in WNY

As family members and friends travel to Western New York to celebrate this holiday season, they will be surprised, and even shocked, to find out that our community doesn’t have ride-sharing services. 

In fact, Buffalo is the only National Football League and National Hockey League city where ride-sharing services are not offered to fans.  Recently, one NHL official declared this as “laughable” and “prehistoric.”

On the eve of Thanksgiving this year, more than 43,000 Upstate residents opened their Uber app and discovered it is not possible to request an UberX.

It’s time to give the green light to Uber and Lyft in Upstate New York.  Offering this new service is another transportation option for consumers that is safe, reliable and affordable.

Right now, ride-sharing services are only allowed in New York City, while Upstate New York has been left behind.  Enacting legislation to allow transportation network companies to operate throughout the entire state, not just downstate, is one of my top legislative priorities.

Earlier this year, I co-sponsored and voted for legislation in the State Senate to expand ride-sharing services to Upstate New York.  Unfortunately, the bill was not approved before the 2016 Legislative Session adjourned in mid-June despite the support of numerous organizations and individuals.

Regional chambers of commerce, including the Buffalo Niagara Partnership and Rochester Business Alliance, are backing the proposal.  In addition, mayors from cities all across Upstate– Buffalo, Rochester, Binghamton, Syracuse, Albany, Utica and Ithaca– have advocated for the measure.

One of the founding organizations of the NY Needs Uber Coalition is Mothers Against Drunk Driving.  According to a study conducted by Temple University, cities with Uber have fewer drunk driving deaths than cities without the transportation service.

Uber and Lyft would also have a positive impact on our Upstate economy by creating jobs and helping local businesses.  Uber has estimated as many as 13,000 new jobs could be created in one year.  According to an economic report by Lyft, almost half of its passengers spend more money, because of the transportation service, at local businesses.

Last week, I started an online petition to urge Governor Cuomo and my colleagues in the State Legislature to adopt legislation to bring ride-sharing to Western New York.  I encourage residents to consider signing the petition at my website, ranzenhofer.nysenate.gov.

Working together, we can ensure that next year, when our friends and family return again, they’ll be surprised for a different reason: Western New York finally has Uber and Lyft.  

I hope that you and your family have a happy holiday season, and I wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!