D.C. ranked as best U.S. city for taxicabs and Uber
That’s the conclusion of a new report from the R Street Institute, in which the Libertarian group graded 50 U.S. cities on their regulations governing taxicabs, limos, app-based sedan services like Uber, and ride-sharing options like UberX, Lyft and Sidecar.
The cities were graded on three categories: transportation network company regulations, those targeting companies like Uber; taxicab regulations; and limo regulations. All told, D.C. scored 95 out of 100, just above second-place Minneapolis, which scored 94.7, and third-place Fresno, California, at 93.7.
Baltimore did less well, scoring 78.67, while Virginia Beach posted a score of 88.79. Portland, Oregon and Las Vegas, Nevada were given failing grades.
On transportation network company regulations, D.C. scored a perfect 100, one of only five cities to post a perfect score on how it approaches app-based companies that have come to the fore in recent years.
While the D.C. Taxicab Commission has battled with Uber and more recent ride-sharing options like UberX, Lyft and Sidecar, the group says that the D.C. Council has made up for it by passing specific legislation legalizing the services.
“The District of Columbia makes for an interesting case study in responding to the challenges posed by TNCs,” says the report. “Though the D.C. Taxicab Commission has responded negatively to TNCs and sparked bitter debates before the City Council, the actual legislative response has actually been quite positive toward the services.”
On taxicabs, D.C. scored a 95, losing five points on what the group termed “hostile regulation,” which includes fare limitations, dispatch mandates and vehicle age limits. D.C. fared worst on limo regulations, posting an 85 for what the group says is excessive regulation.
