Displaying items by tag: Carrie Woerner, Shelby Schneider, Uber, Lyft,
Ride Sharing Launched in City and Beyond
[In gallery photos, from left: Shelby Schneider of the Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership; and state Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner with her first Uber driver. Photos provided.]
SARATOGA SPRINGS — State Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner (D-Round Lake) took an inaugural ride to Spring Street Thursday to mark the arrival of Uber, Lyft and other ride-sharing services statewide.
In April, the state Legislature and Gov. Andrew Cuomo agreed to enact a ride-sharing law, which was favored by many New Yorkers. A minor amendment in May made it effective Thursday, prior to the July 4 holiday weekend.
“Bringing ridesharing to the communities that I represent has been a priority of mine since taking office, and I am pleased that all of us in state government have worked together to make that happen,” Woerner said in a statement.
“Ridesharing will not only support small businesses and tourism in the Saratoga community, but will also provide job opportunities and reduce chances for driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol,” she added. “I look forward to seeing how these benefits improve the quality of life for all of us in the City of Saratoga Springs and Saratoga County.”
Shelby Schneider, the director of business retention and expansion for the Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership, said this week that the availability of ride-sharing services will be a “game-changer” for local employers.
For workers who experience difficulties in commuting to work, this “completely new” option could prove to be reliable, according to Schneider.
During a trip last year to Minnesota, Schneider reported, she tried a ride-sharing service for the first time herself. “I was very impressed,” she said.
The two primary ride-sharing companies, Uber and Lyft, do not accept cash payments. All transactions and rides are managed online or through smartphone apps, making it more convenient for customers.
For more information, visit the websites www.uber.com/cities/upstate-ny/ and www.lyft.com.
[Readers are encouraged to post respectful comments regarding the article below.]