Uber and Lyft Could Be Ready to Exit Chicago, Too

"Two-thirds of Chicago’s 50 aldermen want to license ride-hailing drivers to improve public safety and level the playing field with a taxicab industry fighting for survival against Uber and Lyft," reports Fran Spielman.

Ald. Anthony Beale (9th), chairman of the City Council’s Transportation Committee, proposed the licensing ordinance, which "would require Uber and Lyft drivers to get restricted chauffeur’s licenses after a one-day class, be fingerprinted by a city-approved vendor and get their vehicles inspected by City Hall."

The response by transportation network company representatives have been as expected. Uber’s Chicago general manager, Marco McCottry, is quoted directly in the article, saying, "If this ordinance were to pass, ride-sharing as we know it would no longer exist in Chicago…" Uber and Lyft have proven their willingness to act on such threats by ending operations in Austin after losing a similar regulatory debate in that city.

The alderman on the side of the taxi industry are opposed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who is "lobbying hard" to kill the licensing ordinance.