After 2014 departure, Lyft operations return to KCMO
July 26, 2017 | Bobby Burch
Kansas Citians now have more ridesharing options than just Uber.
After nearly a three year hiatus, the ride-sharing giant Lyft on Sunday re-launched its operations in Kansas City, Mo., including Kansas City International Airport.
Lyft’s arrival represents more local competition among Uber and Lyft, and more choices for riders in Kansas City. Lyft already was operating in St. Louis and Columbia and several Kansas cities, including Kansas City, Kan., Lawrence, Topeka and more.
Similar to Uber, Lyft allows users to hail a ride from a driver on-demand via an app.
Earlier this month, the Kansas City Council voted 9-2 to amend its vehicle-for-hire law to comply with a Missouri state law that goes into effect in August. That state law changed regulations for companies such as Uber and Lyft, including licensing fees, background checks and inspections. The new law also exempts ride-sharing companies from local and municipal taxes.
Lyft halted its Kansas City operations in October of 2014 after the city established for-hire transportation regulations it deemed as too burdensome. In 2015 the company said it wouldn’t return to Kansas City, while Uber agreed to work within the new regulatory framework.
The self-proclaimed “fastest growing ridesharing service in the U.S.,” Lyft is Uber’s primary domestic competitor. In April, Lyft raised $600 million financing round at a valuation of $7.5 billion. Founded in 2012, Lyft is available in more than 350 U.S. cities.
2017 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Coming UMKC innovation center to serve students, entrepreneurs
With funding shored up from private and public donors, the University of Missouri-Kansas City is planning to move ahead with its plan to build the Robert W. Plaster Free Enterprise Center to support students and entrepreneurs. Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon announced Tuesday that the state is allocating $7.4 million to the center, which represents half…
Security firm Nodal nabs $100K, ramps up hiring
Good news is stacking up for Kansas City-based Nodal Industries. The security hardware tech company recently snagged $100,000 in seed funding as part of an opportunity to participate in the 500 Startup accelerator program, based in Mountain View, Calif. The funding will allow Nodal to hire up to eight people, as well as ramp up production…
Play-It Health lands in top-ranked digital health accelerator
As with many successful startups, the idea for Play-It Health was born out of personal experience with an unsolved industry need. Kim Gandy, a former clinician and now the founder and CEO of Play-It Health, recognized that patients were having trouble engaging and adhering to their medical regimen. In the worst cases, this led to…
LaunchKC, Techweek to welcome 10 tech firms to KC in style
In roughly four months, Kansas City will welcome a crop of tech startups bolstered by thousands of dollars in funding and a rockstar arrival. Kansas City’s LaunchKC competition — which aims to attract 10 tech firms to relocate to KC with $50,000 grants — has partnered with national tech conference Techweek to offer the winners…