Arkansas LegislatureEconomic FreedomEconomic PolicyElection 2014Individual Freedom

Uber/Lyft Working Well in Detroit. Why Not Little Rock?

uber lyft regsWe wrote a couple weeks ago about Little Rock City Director Joan Adcock’s ongoing crusade to ban (or regulate out of existence) innovative ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft that may soon be operating in Little Rock.
Our friends at the Center for Local Governance at the Texas Public Policy Foundation recently released a video about one Detroit driver who used her employment by a ride-sharing service to avoid going on welfare. Take a look!

The Board of Directors was scheduled to discuss Uber/Lyft regulations on Tuesday night but never got around to it. They’re expected to take the issue back up later this month.
When new services like Uber and Lyft begin operating, there is sometimes a dangerous tendency by some elected officials to look only at the costs springing from lost business that are imposed on existing taxi companies. However, it would be better if lawmakers also looked at the unseen future benefits — for instance, the benefits to consumers, who will have more lower-priced options, and the benefits to new businesses and employees, like future drivers like Miiha. Here’s some recommended reading on what is seen and what is not seen.
If Little Rock wants the unflattering distinction of being less free and more closed to innovation, then its Board of Directors should follow Adcock’s lead — but if the Board wants to open up new job opportunities and consumer options outside the current taxi monopoly, Little Rock government would do well to ignore her concerns.

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5 thoughts on “Uber/Lyft Working Well in Detroit. Why Not Little Rock?

  • Some people just don’t understand innovation. Society demands better options or else these services would not exist. Capitalism 101.
    Try out Lyft for free (up to $25) your first time using code: AIRLYFT7

    Reply
  • Gene Pfeifer

    I just returned from two weeks in London where Uber is operating alongside the historic Black Cabs and both seem to be thriving and have their place. The Uber cars were mostly brand new, very clean and the drivers were eager to please and completely knowledgeable about the city. The competition is good for both services and the public they serve. Little Rock needs to decide if it wants to put on its big boy pants and grow up.

    Reply
  • here’s a free $25.00 so when they do legalize it there you get 25 bucks off your first ride. Just enter the promo code in promo section when you’ve downloaded the app. Goodluck government trying to stop it. You get crushed everytime and back pedal when ppl ban together. What, do you want ppl to get DUI’s?

    Reply

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