In its Wednesday, January 18th Regular Meeting, the Greene County Legislature adopted a resolution in support of New York State allowing ride-sharing companies such as Uber and Lyft to provide services in Upstate New York. Currently, New York State law permits these companies to operate within the five boroughs of New York City (Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and the Bronx), but not in the rest of the state.
The ever-increasing use of mobile device apps has contributed to the expansion and popularity of ride-sharing services around the world, providing flexible job opportunities and reliable, readily accessible transportation options for both local residents and visitors.
Greene County has a strong tourism-based economy, with a large percentage of visitors and second homeowners from the New York Metro Area, that are accustomed to having access to and readily use ridesharing services to access lodging facilities, restaurants and shopping areas, train stations, and popular recreation and entertainment destinations, and expect that same level of service when they travel upstate.
The Buy In Greene | Invest In Greene economic development initiative of the Greene County Legislature is conducting an awareness campaign on the benefits of permitting ride-sharing in Greene County. Residents and visitors can register their support by visiting the campaign web page at BuyInGreene.com
Resolution Supporting Ride-sharing Legislation in the State of New York
WHEREAS, Ride-sharing provides an online marketplace for transportation network companies to connect paying passengers with drivers who provide the transportation with their own vehicles, making use of the recent technology advances of GPS navigation devices, smart phones, and social networking applications; and
WHEREAS, under New York State’s law, the popular ride-sharing transportation services, such as Uber and Lyft, are only legally permitted to operate in New York City, providing a fundamental imbalance in economic opportunity and access to cost-effective transportation that benefits New York City whiling hurting Upstate New York; and
WHEREAS, previous attempt to authorize ride-sharing legislation (A.6090/S.4280-A) was defeated by the NYS Assembly, which proposed to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Law to allow for the creation of “transportation network companies” through which drivers would be allowed to use personal vehicles for the purposes of transporting customers, and that would amend the Insurance Law to allow for polices covering this type of service in Upstate New York, and that the companies would be required to be registered, have insurance, and conduct criminal background checks for its drivers; and
WHEREAS there is long-standing and persistent need for alternative methods of transportation for the residents of Greene County, to travel within Greene or surrounding counties to access such locations as downtowns for shopping and services, medical facilities and doctor’s offices, and educational facilities, not easily accessible or served by public transportation; and
WHEREAS, the residents of Greene County would benefit from the enactment of such legislation in that it provides flexible job opportunities and a more reliable and readily utilized means of transportation, spurring economic development and growth; and
WHEREAS, Greene County has a strong tourism-based economy, with a large percentage of visitors and second homeowners from the New York Metro Area, that are accustomed to having access to and readily use ridesharing services to access lodging facilities, restaurants and shopping areas, train stations, and popular recreation and entertainment destinations, and expect that same level of service, putting Greene County at a competitive disadvantage as a tourism destination; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Greene County Legislature supports the enactment of state legislation that would allow for ride-sharing transportation network companies to be established and operated in Greene County, as well as throughout Upstate New York; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Clerk of this Legislature is hereby directed to cause a copy of this resolution to be forwarded to the Honorable Governor Andrew M. Cuomo; Senate Temporary President and Majority Leader John J. Flanagan; Senator George A. Amedore, Jr.; Speaker of the Assembly Carl E. Heastie; Assembly Majority Leader Joseph D. Morelle; Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb; Member of the Assembly Peter Lopez; and all others deemed necessary and proper.
