Uber

Legislators worked late into the evening Wednesday as the end of this session draws closer.

Making sure residents are safe is the top priority for the Ann Arbor Police Department.  And as you can imagine, they encounter a variety of situations in the field on a daily basis.  To give you a glimpse of their interactions with the public we sent WEMU’s Jorge Avellan out for a police ride-along.

In the past, the city of Ann Arbor has actively tried to regulate Uber and similar transportation companies.  That may be the case again after the suspect in the Kalamazoo shootings was identified as an Uber driver.

There was a prayer vigil last night organized by Kalamazoo area churches to remember the six people killed over the weekend in a shooting spree.  

For now, you can still catch a ride in Ann Arbor from alternative providers Uber and Lyft.  Proposed regulatory changes to the city's taxicab ordinance to include those services stalled out before City Council this week and the reaction has been mixed.

Shortly after rideshare services Uber and Lyft came to Ann Arbor the city sent the companies cease and desist letters.  Now a proposal to amend the city's taxi cab ordinance is being considered to but some teeth behind the letters.  

Ann Arbor area residents have a couple of new options to get around town, but the city’s taxi cab board has concerns.  The conflict between traditional cab drivers and new services like Uber and Lyft has come to Washtenaw County.

The Uber on-demand motor transportation company is now operating in Ann Arbor.

Michael White is General Manager for Uber in Michigan.  He says Uber is partnering with licensed limousine companies in Ann Arbor.

"And they're going to provide kind of a luxurious service," White says. "So imagine a luxury sedan or black car, something like a Lincoln Town Car or Cadillac DTS, with professional chauffeur."

White says the lower-cost Uber-X service pairs passengers with drivers of standard sedans in a ride-share model.