It's been over a year since the ride-sharing service Uber decided to discontinue its service in Auburn. In that time, city officials and council members have been working to ensure that Auburn is a welcoming environment for the company and a fair environment for the city's existing taxi companies.
According to Auburn City Manager Charles Duggan, city officials have contacted Uber in order to get their feedback about Auburn city ordinances.
"We've asked Uber to reply to us about how our current ordinance doesn't suit their being able to work here in Auburn," Duggan said. "They haven't replied to us. It's up to them whether they want to do business in Auburn. We certainly would welcome them."
Taxi companies are required to maintain passenger liability insurance, perform employee background checks, display signage on the vehicles-for-hire and obtain city permits before operating in the city.
Current Auburn codes, approved by the City Council back in January 2015, dictate that Uber must abide by the same laws and regulations as other more typical taxi services.
"Some of the larger issues were that they wanted to do their own background check and not use anything prescribed by the city," Duggan said. "They also did not want to meet the insurance requirements that the city has."
In December 2015, following an article published by The Plainsman, Jeff Steiger, owner of KGM Auburn Trax Taxi and Transportation Service, went before the City Council to urge the council not to allow Uber.
"My understanding was when they shut down it was because of the rules that taxi owners have to follow," Steiger said. "When you look at towns that Uber has been allowed back into, they're very much different than Auburn. Auburn is a college town."
During the 2016 SGA election season, two of the three candidates for SGA president touted bringing Uber back to Auburn as one of their main platform points. One of the key reasons, according to the candidates, is the safety, security and cost-effectiveness that Uber provides.
"It's a great way for students to have a cheap ride, whether that's late at night or during the day," said Jesse Westerhouse, SGA president. "It's very easily accessible and easily usable by students. It also provides a quick and easy job for students. Students have it in high school and don't have it in college. They deserve to have it in a lot of ways."
Mountain Brook, Birmingham, Montgomery and Mobile, among others, have adjusted their city codes to allow for Uber to operate in their respective cities. Tuscaloosa is currently researching and discussing the possibility of allowing Uber.
According to Westerhouse, he met with city staff, including Mayor Bill Ham, last week to push for the city to allow Uber.
But according to Steiger, if taxi services go out of business, Uber may not be available when students need it.
"(Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights are) our business window," Steiger said. "For that, we pay 31 days of taxes and insurance, which is about four times as expensive as personal auto insurance. With Uber in town as we went through last fall, there was no business other than game days. When Uber comes into town, we lose the business that supports our cost. When we lose our business that supports our cost, then we go out of business."
Uber service is patchy, Steiger said, and depends on peak hours, as drivers can choose their hours when they share their rides.
"If Uber drivers feel like coming out, then we'll have rides," Steiger said. "If they don't feel like coming out, then there will be a lot more people driving and drinking in town."
Duggan said the City of Auburn's first concern is ensuring that when someone calls an Uber ride, the driver is safe and responsible.
"Public safety is our first concern," Duggan said. "Making sure that our regulations are fair across the board would be next. We're willing to sit down and talk with them."
According to Ward 3 Councilwoman Beth Witten, a freer and more competitive market works better for all members of the Auburn community.
"I want to see Uber come back," Witten said. "It's important to have alternative modes of transportation, outside of just cabs ... whether its Uber or Lyft. Competition is always a good thing for everyone. We need to provide multiple avenues for people to be responsible."
Witten said she would like to see Uber and the city come to an agreement before fall. According to Witten, that agreement could possibly include a City Council ordinance designating Uber as a new type of "vehicle for hire" instead of a standard taxi service, essentially flipping the council's January 2015 decision on its heels.
"There are business people who need to grab a car for transportation because maybe they don't have a vehicle or their car is in the shop," Witten said. "I have a friend who has to pay $12 a day for a cab ride so that she can go work a minimum-wage job. That's really hard on her. If we can have another option, maybe she can grab something that only costs her $7."
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