Now that a rideshare company, much like Uber or Lyft, is approaching city leaders about coming to Wichita Falls, councilors are thinking about creating an ordinance that would allow rideshare companies to come to town.
If a rideshare company comes to Wichita falls, local taxi service leaders said they hope the new company is held to similar rules and regulations by the city as taxi services, like having to undergo background checks.
“This person that picks up this person, you don’t know who he is…. not going to know him,” Claudio Ramirez with Wichita Star Taxi said. “Where’s he really from?”
“We’re cheaper than a taxi. There is also…. obviously a large population at Midwestern State University that could raise the benefits of having rideshare for safe rides to and from school or you know, out in public,” Blake Litton, Tride Rideshare Co-Owner, said. “As well as helping our men and women in uniform at Sheppard Airforce Base get around town.”
The ridesharing concept was discussed at Tuesday’s city council meeting after Tride Rideshare, based out of Tulsa, expressed interest in expanding into Wichita Falls. Blake Litton said even before Hotter’N Hell in just over 3- weeks.
“It allows us to get in there and offer our services for people that need a safe ride to and from the event. And it’d be great to get some exposure to the city and give knowledge to the citizens about who we are and what we stand for,” Litton said.
“I have no issues with rideshare as long as they are on the same playing field as our taxi service is,” Glenn Barham, Wichita Falls Mayor, said. “If we require specific background checks and finger prints of our taxi drivers, then we need to require those of the rideshare drivers as well.”
Litton said tough ordinance rules would not discourage them from making the move into Texoma.
The mayor suggested city staff set up a meeting between the owners of the companies to discuss a possible compromise. Barham said that could then be brought back to councilors in the next meeting.
Litton said, unlike Uber, Tride does not have surge charges during certain times. They hope to hire around 100 employees. The employees can make their own hours and work when they are available
(Information from TexomasHomepage.com)
