The late evening fight for cabs on State Street could very soon be a thing of the past. On Nov 18, a representative from the popular driving service, Uber, met with over 100 prospective drivers as well as local lawmakers, in an attempt to bring the company to the streets of Binghamton. Currently, legislation is in motion to change upstate New York's ride sharing regulations that currently prevent Uber from operating in cities like Binghamton and Syracuse. Uber is largely regarded as a safer, and more affordable and comfortable option when compared to traditional cab services. Although, when asked, the Uber representative said they did not yet have an estimate for the costs of fares in Binghamton.
Students seem to be very excited by the possibility of Uber. I very intimately know the struggle of trying to get a ride back to campus, as well as playing what feels like an endless cycle of phone tag with most taxi drivers when they try to pick you up. The location services and online billing of Uber seems like the perfect fix to these problems. Binghamton Mayor Richard David recently joined other politicians in the “NY needs Uber” union, saying that the car service would make it “much easier for students to leave campus, explore destinations in the city and have a safe ride home."
This move to bring Uber upstate has been met with significant backlash, mostly by local cab companies that say it will destroy hundreds of local jobs and cause downturns in the local economy. “Uber is selling them a false bill of goods,” stated David Beirer, president of the Committee for Taxi Safety. This economic claim is based mostly on the notion that most Uber drivers don’t work full time and thus, a sector that was once comprised of hundreds of people making a living would get squeezed out. Uber did respond to these claims saying that "there is more demand for reliable transportation than is currently being supplied. And we believe that when we get here, we will coexist and thrive alongside the taxi industry." These claims are admittedly very questionable, given that Uber has decreased the value of the taxi industry in both New York City and Paris.
The session in which these regulations can be changed is fast approaching and will likely be discussed starting in January. If you think Uber should be brought to Binghamton or if you believe the concerns of negative effects on the local economy are legitimate, comment below or share this article with your opinion. Then sign this petition to show your support. Make it so lawmakers know what students want for Binghamton.
