First State Legislature to Regulate Uber and Lyft: Colorado

Ivan Moreno reports for the Associated Press on the Colorado Legislature's approval of a bill to regulate transportation network companies like Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar.

1 minute read

May 21, 2014, 1:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


The bill out of Colorado will allow transportation network companies to continue to operate in the state. The state's Public Utilities Commission will now have jurisdiction over the companies, which will be classified as transportation network companies, or TNCs. The classification is separate from taxis and limos.

Drivers will be required to have permits to operate. Background checks, vehicle inspections, and personal car insurance will all be required for permitting.

For those keeping track at home, Arizona's Legislature narrowly missed approving similar legislation, which eventually failed after a veto by Governor Jan Brewer. In California, the state's Public Utilities Commission implemented rules for the company without legislative action.

Tuesday, May 20, 2014 in AP via Denver Post

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

September 30, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

An Airo train driving towards the camera on a track. There is a forest behind it.

Northwest rail fans eager for Sept. 30 debut of Amtrak’s Airo fleet

Get ready for that new train smell and more seats. But they won’t go faster or run more frequently on the Cascades route in Washington and Oregon.

September 22, 2026 - Washington State Standard

A rendering of the planned bridge over a large river. The bridge has two main support beams that form diamond shaped arches over the bridge.

Alabama scores up to $2.5 billion federal loan for largest infrastructure project in state’s history

The Mobile River Bridge and Bayway Project aims to ease congestion at Alabama’s worst bottleneck.

September 20, 2026 - NBC 15

A birds-eye view of the construction of an apartment.

Novel study finds extreme state-by-state disparity in housing construction timelines

The first comprehensive working paper on U.S. construction timelines also found that the permitting process for multi-family projects has slowed nationwide.

3 hours ago - Vox

A crowd of people play in the sand at a California beach at sunset.

California may destroy its beaches trying to save homes from El Niño

Boulders and seawalls can protect homes from waves, but ultimately destroy sandy beaches.

4 hours ago - Los Angeles Times

Construction for California's high-speed rail line. A concrete bridge stretches over a dirt field.

California high-speed rail accomplishes only one legislative goal in 2026

The majority of the agency's failed pitches were never developed into written proposals.

5 hours ago - Cal Matters

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Senior Planner

City of Thousand Oaks

Community Development Director

City of Wisconsin Rapids

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design