Thursday, Gov. Bill Walker signed House Bill 132 into law, opening up business in Alaska for Transportation Network Companies, including popular services like Uber and Lyft. The companies already laid the groundwork to start operations before ink from the governor’s pen was even dry.
For its part, Lyft has spent the last month recruiting new drivers in Alaska.
“Specifically in Anchorage, Juneau and Fairbanks,” Scott Coriell said. Coriell is the communications manager for Lyft in San Franscisco.
The company is accepting customers right away.
“The bill that passed the Legislature goes into effect immediately upon the signature of the Governor,” Coriell said. “So we will turn the system on.”
“Folks who are approved to drive can open up the app and start driving, and folks who want a ride can download the app, turn it on and request rides for where they want to go,” Coriell added.
Lyft differentiates itself from competitor Uber by having more driver-friendly features, like being able to pay a tip from within the smartphone app. According to Lyft, the vast majority of its drivers work part-time, many to earn extra income.
Though it has received nowhere near the amount of negative attention over labor and leadership issues as Uber, Lyft settled a $27 million lawsuit in California earlier this year over how it classifies drivers. Issues like that were a key reason why TNCs had to stop operating in Alaska back in 2014.
But if you live in Nome, Sitka or the cab capital of America, Bethel, don’t hold your breath. Coriell said that while the company would like to expand to smaller communities in Alaska, they aren’t quite there yet.
“We do have to do some work on our end to launch those regions,” Coriel said. The hold up centers on compliance issues. For drivers, who have to use their own vehicles, that means meeting inspection standards and passing background checks.
Patrick Carter, a lobbyist for Uber in Alaska, said the company is expected to begin operations within a day and plans to host a launch party next week.
Zachariah Hughes reports on city & state politics, arts & culture, drugs, and military affairs in Anchorage and South Central Alaska.
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