The number of fairs for the traditional yellow taxis have fallen by 10% in the first half of this year.
Birmingham Metro Cab driver, Clifford Qualo said sure, Uber can come to Birmingham, but at what price and under what rules.
The council approved the new regulations with minor changes, removing a requirement that taxi companies operate 24 hours a day and lowering the age limit for drivers of taxis and ride-sharing services from 21 to 18.
In terms of revenue, the News reports a 7% decrease overall-from $1.06 billion last year, to $981 million this year.
Last month, a bill that would cap the number of for-hire vehicles given permits was defeated after vocal protests by Uber drivers and supporters.
Taxi drivers in other US cities – such as Washington, DC, and Palm Beach, Florida – have protested Uber by gridlocking traffic in their respective cities.
Uber told Daily News reporters Nolan Hicks and Dan Rivoli that its fastest growing areas are outside of Manhattan, areas that are underserved by yellow cabs.
Taxi and Limousine Commission representative Allan Fromberg spoke with Business Insider and said the apps are getting the spotlight but there are many other things going on.
The largest single owner of medallions, Gene Friedman of Taxi Club Limited, recently filed for bankruptcy, telling the Observer that the city was unwilling to work with him as the value of his medallions plummeted. Today, online listings hover between $US600,000 and $US900,000.
According to the Financial Times, one of the reasons for Uber’s desire to boost its security team is to protect its drivers, whom Sullivan described as “polarising figures in their communities”.
The regulations approved Tuesday require Uber and similar services to inspect vehicles, set up a system to handle customer complaints, and check criminal background, driving record and sex offender registry on drivers every six months.
The competition has hit the regular cabs hard.
These taxi drivers argue that increasing competition with Uber is cutting into their pool of potential riders.