MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is trying to get Uber and Lyft to stay in the market after the rideshare companies last month vowed to leave on May 1 because of a new city law requiring them to boost driver pay.
Frey brought together groups representing people with disabilities and older residents on Monday as well as airport and tourism leaders. All are urging the Minneapolis City Council to change the policy, which could occur at this Thursday's full meeting.
"We are looking for the council to reconsider its motion," said Corbb O'Connor, president of the National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota. "I'm grateful to the mayor and to the leadership of some of our council members for inviting us not just as consumers but as participants in the future of transportation in our city."
O'Connor insists the apps work best for him but admits they aren't perfect.
"Here, it's telling me meet at the pickup point," he said while waiting for a ride after the press conference. "'Trip Details Card Accessibility Widget,' which is about as helpful as anything, but that is what we experience in apps that aren't built with accessibility in mind."
Frey says this isn't about Uber and Lyft's bottom line but the people who count on them. He also criticized council for the timing of the ordinance.
"That policy was put forward the day before a statewide report came out," Frey said. "This particular statewide report analyzed 18 million rides, and the policy that we have now – that has been moved forward, that is set to be effective on May 1 – did not use that report in coming to the policy that was put forward."
Angelique Kingsbury, chair of the Minneapolis Advisory Committee on Aging, said many older residents rely on rideshare and don't wish to take public transportation due to weather conditions and safety concerns. She told KARE they wouldn't want to take cabs either due to cost.
"I'm just really surprised that the city council or some council members were not willing just to wait one day, one day, to have access to information that would aid them in giving a more well thought plan," Kingsbury said.
Angie Whitcomb, president and CEO of Hospitality Minnesota, said this is concerning heading into tourism season.
"Over the next 3 months, we're expecting 75,000 visitors and over 175,000 room nights booked in our hotels," Whitcomb said. "These guests need to be able to move about Minneapolis and the Twin Cities easily and safely."
The Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce reports there have already been some negative impacts.
"We're all taking calls from trip planners asking, 'What should we do?' Worse yet, we're hearing from future perspective conventions, corporate site selectors and others who are taking Minneapolis off their list of places to visit and places to locate. It's not a great look for our city," its president and CEO Jonathan Weinhagen said.
Council member Andrea Jenkins initially voted to pass it but now joins the group asking for change.
"We have some new information and I think it's incumbent on elected folks to be mindful of the data, and if we made a mistake, we need to be willing to change with new information," she said.
Council member Robin Wonsley coauthored the ordinance and responded to request for comment with the following statement:
"At the press conference, the Mayor asked if this ordinance paves the way for increased enforcement of the minimum wage in other industries. The answer is yes. Every worker deserves a minimum wage, and in Minneapolis that’s $15.57. A worker should be protected by that minimum wage whether they are driving rideshare, doing care work, waiting tables, or doing construction. I’m excited to welcome the many new rideshare companies who are ready to build a more just and stable economy, and pay drivers the Minneapolis minimum wage."
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