City of Orlando to Develop App for Uber/Lyft Permits
Orlando is in the early stages of developing what they are calling a Vehicle for Hire app that aims to improve city compliance ease for rideshare companies such as Lyft and Uber. The app will be developed by Kony Services, a local app development firm with a national reputation.
Orlando approved the contract with Kony Services at yesterday’s city council meeting. Uber and Lyft had expressed that they would prefer an electronic alternative to permit processing according to Matt Broffman, the City of Orlando’s Director of Innovation. The estimated cost of the project is $298,000. The Orlando Police Department will have access to the app for permit enforcement purposes.
“I’m proud that Orlando continues to lead the way as one of only about a dozen major cities across the country that have put forward a legal framework allowing Uber and Lyft to operate legally,” said Mayor Buddy Dyer at the city council meeting.
Earlier in the year the City of Orlando and Uber were at odds, after the city approved new terms outlining Uber would have to submit to in order to operate in Orlando last December. Amongst the new terms was a $3 per mile minimum fee that the ridesharing company strongly opposed. Although ridesharing companies are growing in popularity among consumers, their opposition with the city is nothing out of ordinary, as Uber and Lyft have faced criticism from many major cities in the US and around the world.
