Lyft pushes back against potential increase in Portland ride fees

Yahoo

3 days ago

PORTLAND, Ore. () — Another app is weighing in on Portland's decision to more than double rideshare fees.
an amendment to hike the per-ride fees on apps like Uber and Lyft from 65 cents to $2. Mayor Keith Wilson previously to $1.30 per ride.
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In a letter sent to city leaders on Monday, Lyft's Senior Policy Manager Jon Walker said the company would 'support' the initial proposal under three conditions: District 1 and 2 residents would be exempt from the new cost, 30% of revenue from the increased fee would supplement an electric vehicle grant fund managed by the Portland Bureau of Transportation, and subsidies for wheelchair-accessible vehicle would rise to $50 per ride.
'In addition to protecting riders in low-income areas, Lyft supports Portland's goals of lowering carbon emissions and expanding accessibility funding,' Walker wrote. 'An EV grant fund for rideshare would ensure companies like Lyft have the funds to continue launching creative EV initiatives in Portland, while increased WAV subsidies will help to spread the savings and benefits to everyone — not just the privileged few.'
If the newly-approved ride fee is finalized during city council's June 18 meeting, it is expected to generate another $10 million in PBOT revenue — amid the government's looming budget deficit for the upcoming fiscal year. Lyft claimed the increase would make Portland an outlier compared to 'similarly situated' cities.
According to the company, there are no per-ride fees in Milwaukee or Minneapolis, while Denver's will soon increase from 32 cents to 34 cents. In Seattle, there is an 85-cent fee and a majority of revenue goes to the city.
'If the city council insists on increasing the per ride fee, then Portlanders deserve to see the additional revenue used to advance the causes they care about. Otherwise, this fee increase is an unjust punishment on Portland's most vulnerable,' Lyft's Walker added.
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Uber has also spoken out against the pending increase in Portland. Ahead of last week's vote, the company asked customers to 'keep rideshare affordable' by expressing their concerns in an email to local officials.
The pushback is happening as Oregon lawmakers simultaneously consider a bill that would increase minimum wage and establish other benefits for rideshare drivers.
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