UPDATED July 30, 2015 6:30 a.m.***
The Bryan city council at this week’s meeting postponed consideration of regulating ride sharing companies like Uber.
But that didn’t stop five speakers from addressing the council during the public comment portion of the meeting.
Four of the five said they drove for Uber. The fifth was a taxi driver.
Click below to listen to the five speakers:
Bryan’s proposed regulations include Uber drivers clearing background checks and having insurance just like taxi’s.
Uber rates are set by the parent company’s app and updated multiple times per day, but the rate can’t change once a reservation is made; drivers are not involved with this process.
Taxi companies can change rates only twice a year and that’s with 30 days written notice explaining the reason for the change.
The city would require Uber drivers to be at least 19, while there’s no minimum age to drive a taxi.
The proposal also states Uber drivers can not discriminate who they pick up, something not included for taxis, pedicabs, or horse-drawn carriages in Bryan.
And Uber would be required to keep a 90 day record of activity, listing the names of drivers and passengers…something else not required for taxis or other forms of paid transportation.
***Update: Information about how Uber rates are set was updated to clarify that the drivers themselves do not set the rates.