Uber urges Iowa City area residents to speak up

IOWA CITY - With one vote left on several proposed changes to Iowa City's taxicab and ride-sharing regulations, Uber officials are calling on area residents to speak up.

An email sent Tuesday from Uber Iowa to subscribers asks area residents interested in seeing Uber in their neighborhood to contact the Iowa City Council.

The email, which includes contact information for every council member, also states that 'city leaders have been reluctant to include us in conversations as they draft a proposed ride-sharing ordinance.”

However, Simon Andrew, city administrative assistant, said city staff and Uber began in-person and telephone conversations in September, but a December email from Uber expressing concerns over the proposed regulations was the final correspondence received on the matter.

'That is the last dialogue we have had with them as a staff,” Andrew said.

Uber representatives have not spoken at the council's first two public readings of the regulations.

The council's third and final reading on the ordinance changes is scheduled for Feb. 9.

The bulk of proposed changes to the city ordinance stem from a public safety standpoint and include identification cards for all drivers or a unique color scheme for traditional taxicabs.

Uber spokeswoman Jennifer Mullin said in an email that the proposed regulations would hinder Uber's operations in Iowa City, which she added would reduce drunken driving in the area and add to the overall public safety.

'As it stands, Iowa City's ordinance does not recognize the stark differences between ride-sharing apps like Uber and traditional taxi services. That is unfortunate because it will prevent us from operating there and disappoint thousands of Hawkeyes who have opened up the app looking for a ride,” she said in the email.