SYLACAUGA, Ala. – Ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft will legally be available everywhere in Alabama beginning Sunday.
A law was passed through congress and signed by Alabama Governor Kay Ivey in March allowing ride sharing companies to operate statewide. The law requires the Public Service Commission to issue permits and regulate ridesharing companies.
“Alabamians in all areas of our state now have the option to enjoy the many benefits of ridesharing, including opportunities for those looking to make extra income; increased economic activity for local businesses, cities and towns; and the expansion of safe, affordable transportation options,” Governor Ivey said. “I was pleased to have a part in bringing this much-needed service statewide and look forward to watching these platforms grow in the years to come.”
Regulations in cities against ridesharing services in cities will be pushed aside meaning cities will not be allowed to require a business license or implement a tax.
Uber and Lyft are both app-based businesses enabling customers to request rides on a mobile device from their current position to a destination. Once a driver receives a request the apps show arrival times and allows the customer to see exactly where their driver is. Payments are calculated through the app and charged to a credit or debit card through the app.
Ridesharing companies are particularly popular in larger municipalities such as Birmingham and college towns like Tuscaloosa and Auburn, but will there be a market for these companies in more rural areas like Sylacauga and Talladega County?
We will have to wait and see.
But just in case you want to give it a try and be an employee, sign up to drive for Uber or Lyft by clicking the highlighted links that will walk you through the process.
Drivers work their own schedules, whenever they want. They simply turn the app on and cruise. Maybe, just maybe, you can make a few dollars driving your friends home from local bars on a Friday night.
