The Portland Metro Chamber and a coalition that includes Portland professional sports teams and arts groups implored the Portland City Council in a letter today to not to pass a proposed policy that would restrict the portion of a fare that ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft could take from each trip.<\/p>\n
While the two councilors championing the proposal say it will raise drivers\u2019 take-home pay with a greater share of their ride fees, the companies have warned that passing such a policy would steeply increase fares and jeopardize their operations in Portland. Uber has threatened it may leave the city altogether. <\/a><\/p>\n The Metro Chamber joined forces with a coalition called We Play for Portland, which includes the Portland Trail Blazers, the Portland Timbers, Sport Oregon, Travel Portland, the Oregon Symphony, the Oregon Ballet Theatre and the Portland Opera, to warn the council of what it called \u201cdeep concerns about the unintended consequences these policies could have on Portland\u2019s economy, cultural vitality, and accessibility.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAt a time when Portland is working to rebuild its economy and restore confidence in downtown and the broader region, policies that risk reducing access to reliable, affordable transportation would move us in the wrong direction,\u201d the April 3 letter reads. \u201cPolicies that significantly increase the cost of rideshare services\u2014or create an environment where companies may reduce service levels or exit the market altogether\u2014pose a direct threat to our city\u2019s transportation ecosystem and to the livelihoods of the group those policies are intended to support.”<\/p>\n The group said that after a similar proposal passed in Seattle, \u201cprices reportedly rose by approximately 40 percent, and demand dropped sharply.\u201d<\/p>\n Councilors Steve Novick and Elana Pirtle-Guiney are co-sponsoring the policy, which has not yet made it to the full council for a first or second vote.<\/p>\n Novick in a phone call with WW said that he stands by the proposal.<\/p>\n