An already-packed State College taxi market is about to get even busier. Popular mobile application-based transportation service Uber, which has taken the taxi industry by storm, is set to come to town and is expected to be available this weekend.
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission voted 4-1 in favor of approving an experimental license for Uber in November, paving the way for the company’s entrance to the State College market.
The service has come under scrutiny for potentially endangering passengers in the past, prompting the PUC to require background checks of all drivers and specific requirements for insurance coverage. In Philadelphia, a group of 45 taxi companies filed a federal lawsuit against Uber, essentially arguing that the company is operating an illegal and unregulated taxi service, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
“Subject to certain conditions, we believe that this new type of transportation service can be of great benefit to the traveling public and should be certificated by the commission,” PUC Chairman Robert Powelson said in a news release.
Uber was in town this weekend to meet with and begin preparing prospective drivers as they aim for a launch in the near future, likely by this coming weekend.
“With the PUC’s decision to grant Uber a license to operate in most of the state, we’re excited to open up our platform to millions more Pennsylvanians, including State College in the near future,” Uber spokesperson Taylor Bennett says. “We’ve seen an incredible demand from both riders and drivers in the area looking for more options and greater opportunity.”
Skip Dreibelbis, owner of the local business True Blue Auctions and a member of the Penn State 1986 national championship football team, says he has been in contact with Uber regarding their move to State College. Dreibelbis says the company told him that they see a significant need for the service in the area.
“They told me they called for a taxi on Friday night and waited almost 45 minutes for one to pick them up and take them back to their hotel,” he says.
Dreibelbis added that he sees Uber as a service that would make travel much more efficient for students and locals alike. On the other hand, it seems that existing local taxi services aren’t too worried about the competition.
Multiple local taxi drivers from various services, all of whom asked not to be named, scoffed at the idea of Uber taking over the State College transportation market. On the contrary, they don’t expect Uber’s experimental license to last amidst growing concern over its lack of background checks. We have confirmed that the company used a background check service for all drivers applying to work for Uber in State College.
While there might be some controversy brewing over the impending arrival of Uber in State College, one thing is for sure: Penn State students will be rejoicing in hopes of less busy signals and a shorter wait time for a late-night ride.
