Taxi Drivers Upset Over Possible Increase In Ride-Sharing At LAX
Lyft and Uber may be making their way to LAX to pick up passengers come this summer.
In his State of the City address Tuesday, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced rideshare companies will soon be allowed to join taxis at LAX.
Michael Amodeo, an Uber spokesperon, said they've been hearing from riders and drivers that they want ridesharing services like Uber at LAX.
"We look forward to providing one more option. At the end of the day, this is people's choice in terms of how they want to get to and from the airport," said Amodeo.
Amodeo said it's time LAX catch up with other airports who are embracing rideshare options.
"Tens of thousands of people across Los Angeles are using Uber every single day to move around and make a living. The only place that option currently doesn't exist is when someone lands at LAX," Amodeo said.
Currently rideshare companies aren't allowed to pick up passengers from LAX, but they are allowed to drop them off.
"Coming from the airport, I guess we usually take cabs or relatives or whatever, but then I've actually taken Uber several times and I think for me I find Uber way more convenient," said passenger Aina.
"Coming out from a very long flight it's just easier when you don't know a city to just take a taxi to go to your hotel or destination," said another passenger.
William Rouse, a Yellow Cab general manager, said the company is "working closely with airport officials as well as city staff to craft a reasonable regulatory framework that would allow for ridersharing pick-up and drop-off at LAX."
"We want to make sure we are paying our fair share to support investments in LAX at the same time making it as safe, easy and reliable for people as possible to request a ride with Uber when they land at LAX," added Amodeo.