By Keith Reed
[email protected]

Uber is a popular ride-sharing service that is available in many cities, but not Iowa City. If you’re one of the many people in Iowa City who do not happen to own/ have access to a car, then everything outside of central Iowa City is out of reach.There are city buses, but there is a fundamental problem with buses. The city buses are not as reliable as they are in bigger cities, for example, Chicago or New York City. Taxis are another option, but they are also unreliable around busy seasons.

In February of this year, the Iowa City City Council passed a ordinance regarding business models referring to app-based taxi services and traditional cab services. The ordinance favors traditional taxi businesses because it requires uniformity in color, and every driver must get a city-issued photo ID. On the other hand, there is OrderUp, which, generally speaking, works under the same principles that Uber would. It delivers food from places that normally do not deliver, and drivers use their own vehicles.

Uber would be good for the state of Iowa and Iowa City. It is an umbrella company, and the drivers are independent contractors. These independent contractors have to file taxes with the state and the federal government. This influx of tax money could mean changes in the state as well as funding government programs.

There are many jobs in Iowa City, and Uber could increase the money that is spent downtown. Uber drivers can make their own schedules. This is helpful for those students who do not want to conform to the usual schedule of working during the weekends. Those drivers who want to work on the weekends are giving themselves a better-earning potential because of the high traffic on the weekends.

Iowa City is a college town that wants to grow its economy. There are various shops and restaurants that represent the varied population of the Iowa City community. Uber is a sign of progress. Des Moines and Cedar Rapids both have green-lighted Uber services.   

Uber has proven its worth in other major cities. There is no guarantee that the taxi drivers go through a vigorous background testing that Uber does. There have been many reports of people getting sexually assaulted in taxicabs, including here in Iowa City. I am not saying that Uber is the solution to these problems, but it can be an alternative. Many people have preferences when it comes to transportation around the city. I would love to be able to say that Uber is an option that is at our disposal, and I hope the city reconsiders its position to accommodate their needs.