Pa. House committee skips vote on ride-sharing legislation

Uber and other ride-share companies suffered a setback in Harrisburg on Tuesday, when authorizing legislation was withdrawn from a committee vote in the state House.

Supporters of ride-share companies, which use smartphone applications to connect riders to private car owners, said the legislation did not appear to have enough votes for passage in the Consumer Affairs Committee.

There were sharp divisions among legislators about whether the law should exempt Philadelphia, which has its own regulations for taxicabs and limousines under the Parking Authority. The rest of the state's cabs are regulated by the state Public Utility Commission.

Lawmakers were also divided about insurance requirements for ride-share vehicles and drivers, said the bill's chief sponsor, Rep. John Maher (R., Allegheny).

Maher also said some lawmakers were concerned that Uber was trying to establish an "anticompetitive atmosphere" in which other ride-share companies would be unable to compete.

Efforts to establish statewide rules for ride-share companies are likely dead for the year, as the legislature will soon adjourn.

"It's terribly disappointing," said Maher. "The prognosis is not good for this year."

Opponents of the ride-share companies, including Philadelphia cab owners and drivers, hailed the apparent collapse of the legislative push.

"I certainly hope" the effort is over for the year, said Alex Friedman, general manager of the All City and Checker Cab companies, which dispatch about 750 Philadelphia taxis.

Friedman and others in Philadelphia's cab industry have objected to the ride-share companies as unfair competition, able to operate without the same safety and insurance regulations as regular taxis.

Uber already operates Uber Black in Philadelphia, a limousine service in which vehicles are summoned by app. Uber Black in Philadelphia operates 399 vehicles authorized by the Parking Authority, doing business as Gegen L.L.C.

Uber wants to also operate UberX, the cheaper service in which private car owners give rides to customers who summon them electronically through the Uber app.