MINNEAPOLIS — Need a wride?
You may soon be able to find one with Wridz, the latest rideshare option to enter the Twin Cities market after looming threats by Uber and Lyft to leave Minneapolis over over new regulations that would ensure higher pay for drivers.
Wridz, which bills itself as the "Evolution of Rideshare," is recruiting drivers in the Twin Cities with a pitch claiming they'll keep 100% of fares.
Steve Wright, founder and CEO of Wridz, told KARE 11 the rideshare company started in Austin, Texas, after Uber and Lyft left the city in 2016 under different circumstances. A new Texas law then eventually superseded the Austin ordinance, leading to Uber's and Lyft's return a year later.
"I know in Austin, 10 companies came in very quickly, filled the void, and I don't know that the city of Austin really felt that much of a difference. Now, of course, when the big companies came back in, they just started knocking off the mom and pops, and kicking people out of the business more or less," Wright said to KARE in March. "But we did find we did fine with the companies that were here at the time."
With Wridz, drivers pay a monthly subscription of about $100, allowing them to keep 100% of ride fares. Wright said all drivers receive face-to-face interviews and drug screening.
Wridz already operates in eight states, the closest of which being South Dakota.
The two companies threatened to leave Minneapolis come July after the state legislature introduced a minimum wage bill for drivers. Those involved are now trying to find a compromise after the Minneapolis City Council already approved an ordinance to pay drivers $1.40 - $0.13 cents more than the state's proposal.
Watch more local news:
Watch the latest local news from the Twin Cities and across Minnesota in our YouTube playlist:
WATCH MORE ON KARE 11+
Download the free KARE 11+ app for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV and other smart TV platforms to watch more from KARE 11 anytime! The KARE 11+ app includes live streams of all of KARE 11's newscasts. You'll also find on-demand replays of newscasts; the latest from KARE 11 Investigates, Breaking the News and the Land of 10,000 Stories; exclusive programs like Verify and HeartThreads; and Minnesota sports talk from our partners at Locked On Minnesota.
- Add KARE 11+ on Roku here or by searching for KARE 11 in the Roku Channel Store.
- Add KARE 11+ on Fire TV here or by searching for KARE 11 in the Amazon App Store.
- Learn more about the KARE 11+ app for Apple TV in the Apple App Store.
- Learn more about KARE 11+ here.