Uber Negotiates With Authorities To Launch In Birmingham

After negotiating with the authorities, Uber introduces its service in Birmingham.

Uber was introduced in the Birmingham metro area on Tuesday afternoon after it negotiated with officials of the city for more than a year. Users could now hire a cab in the region on New Year Eve and Birmingham Bowl, stated Uber GM in Alabama.

Birmingham city spokesperson told that 41 driving partners were able to receive Uber licenses from the authorities of the city. "Residents of Birmingham have been eager to get expanded access to safe, reliable transportation options and the economic opportunities that Uber brings to the community," Maguire elaborated in a release. "We are thrilled to finally be able to start operating here, and I want to personally thank city officials for all their hard work and support to make this happen." 

On Monday, Birmingham city granted business license to Uber. As negotiated, the city has set an individual authorizing requirement, which permitted that everyone who is interested in becoming the transporter’s driving partner should also file an application for a license with Birmingham. The cost of which is $30 yearly, and the yearly fee for drivers who are providing their services to existing cab companies, would be cut down from $60 to $30.

In a meeting on Wednesday morning, the City Council of Birmingham ratified amendments made to the business license code of city permitting transportation networking corporations, such as Uber technologies, to operate.

"My colleagues and I have worked tirelessly to make this a reality, as we look to provide enhanced transportation options for both residents and visitors alike," Council President Johnathan Austin stated last week.

Many weeks ago, the City Council passed an ordinance that provided an opportunity to transportation network corporations to enter in Birmingham. The move allows for a 180-day period of ride hailing, and then, the operations and ordinance would be reevaluated.

Deliberations regarding the ridesharing’s viability in the city began about 18 months ago but have been hit by many obstacles since. In July last year, deliberations regarding ride hailing in the city delayed despite of the council’s endorsement of revisions to the transportation code to include mobile applications.

During a committee meeting on August 26, 2015, Uber’s officials met with the members of the city council and described the company’s business model, including the means employed to choose and screen drivers. The company was ambitious to see its service in the city before Christmas but some issues delayed the launch.