Lyft and Kansas City may reunite thanks to new ride-sharing law
April 27, 2017 | Bobby Burch
Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens on Monday signed legislation that could bring the ride-sharing company Lyft back to the Kansas City market.
Passed with strong support from Missouri lawmakers, Gov. Greitens’ signature sets forth regulations for ride-sharing companies such as Uber and Lyft, including licensing fees, background checks and inspections.
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. Uber and Lyft issued statements saying the new law — which also exempts ride-sharing companies from local and municipal taxes — will allow them to expand throughout Missouri.
The law should help create a more competitive environment for ride-sharing firms in Kansas City, Mo. and create more jobs around the state. Lyft is now in operation in Kansas City, Kan. and Johnson County.
The Kansas City Star reports that the new law will spur most area taxis to operate like Uber and Lyft vehicles. Bill George — the CEO of Kansas City Transportation Group, which operates hundreds of taxis in the area — said that cabs operating under Yellow Cab and 10/10 Taxi will be shifted to zTrip, a “transportation network company” or TNC. TNCs fall under the same state licensing rules as Uber and Lyft.
2017 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Bacon Explosion pizza partnership with Minsky’s tops meaty six months for Megan Day
There’s more than one way to slice Burnt Finger BBQ’s signature sausage log, Megan Day said. For the Bacon Explosion Pizza, that’s julienned — with barbecue sauce and pickles. “The taste that comes through from the Bacon Explosion is the star of that pizza,” added Mike Burr, general manager for Minsky’s Pizza, which has partnered…
Former Google, Uber exec running for office in Kansas
Mapping expert Brian McClendon is plotting a route to the Kansas State Capitol. The former Google and Uber executive on Monday launched his candidacy for Kansas secretary of state, a role that would task him with administering state elections and voter registration. Currently, a research professor at the University of Kansas, McClendon co-founded the tech…
‘Be the Boss’ invites probation, parole clients into entrepreneurial ecosystem
Would-be entrepreneurs who are returning from incarceration shouldn’t feel excluded from Kansas City’s startup ecosystem, Kyle J. Smith said. Be the Boss, a support group launching next month under Smith’s leadership, aims to provide a welcoming environment free from the stigma associated with a criminal history, he said. “When we’re being honest about the elephant…
Wesley Hamilton earns international WeWork award, surprise $18K prize
When he arrived in New York City this week to accept one of four WeWork Community Giver awards, Wesley Hamilton was shaking with pain, he said. “My body was hurting so bad, I knew something great was going to happen,” said Hamilton, a Kansas City adaptive athlete and founder of the nonprofit Disabled But Not…