Our Voice: Kennewick should compromise, let Uber operate

The Tri-Cities is a well-traveled community with lots of folks who travel often on business, as well as pleasure. We also are trying really hard to be a destination for tourists from near and far and to show millennials that this is a community where they can thrive.

So why do we want to fight one of the best consumer services to be developed in recent years?

We’re talking about Uber and the city of Kennewick’s continued resistance to allow the taxi service to operate in our community.

Uber is an app that allows you to request a ride at the tap of a touchscreen. For those who have used it, you know it’s convenient, cashless and reliable. We can’t say the same for taxi service in the Tri-Cities.

Uber service started last year here, but Kennewick quickly squashed it. After months of talks to find a way to work together, the city and Uber are down to one major sticking point: who is in charge of background checks for drivers.

The service, which includes options for ride-sharing as well as luxury transportation, has met opposition in other markets. The opposition came mostly from taxi companies and drivers who are threatened by the modernized version of their business by companies like Uber, Lyft and others. Solutions and compromises by both have allowed the services to thrive in cities large and small, including some in Eastern Washington.

Uber does its own background checks, but Kennewick wants to be the agency conducting them.

Having learned many lessons along the way to its success, Uber knows what happens when a city controls that system. Things move at a snail’s pace. It is offering to let the city audit its background checks. Uber operates similarly in 480-plus cities worldwide.

They want folks to feel comfortable with their drivers. Otherwise, people won’t use it, and Uber will die a rapid death by social media fire.

Like any other profession, Uber has had some drivers who have passed its background checks but still gone rogue. We can say the same from some teachers, cops and others. No system is perfect.

The fact that Uber is cashless — users create an account in advance — is also a safety measure for drivers who are less likely to be robbed than taxi drivers packing cash. When you use the app, you get the license plate, make/model of the vehicle and a photo of the driver who is coming to get you as well as an estimated arrival time.

What Uber can do for a community that taxis here have not been able to is create jobs for drivers who set their own hours, cut down on DUIs and provide transportation at all times of day. In Seattle, Uber claims DUIs have dropped by 10 percent since the service launched there. Other studies show DUIs on the decline in cities with Uber and Lyft, but the data isn’t foolproof. Business owners now have traveling employees use Uber instead of taxis and rental cars because it’s easy, convenient and documented. It’s also a great way to treat clients when taking them to dinner or out to see the sights.

Uber knows its business well, and even puts table tents in bars offering a free ride for first-time users. Uber says rush hour starts at last call, and the company is endorsed by Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

What we do know is that if you decide to go out at night in a city that has Uber and you need a ride home, you always get one. We also know that on a busy Saturday night in Tri-Cities, the wait for a cab can take hours. And if you’re at a winery on the outskirts, you might never get a taxi to come for you. If it’s a busy time, Uber prices will surge — but they’ll let you know upfront if demand is at a peak. You’ll still get a ride, but you’ll pay a little more. Fair enough.

Uber and similiar services are needed here, whether it’s for an early morning ride to the airport or a late night home from the bar. We understand Kennewick and neighboring cities have concerns, and safety is paramount. But let Uber do its diligence and challenge their results if warranted.

This story was originally published July 12, 2016 at 5:11 AM with the headline "Our Voice: Kennewick should compromise, let Uber operate."