Region reacts to new ridesharing legislation

CAPITAL REGION, N.Y. >> Upstate New Yorkers will soon finally have the opportunity to experience ridesharing, as lawmakers passed legislation as part of the 2017-18 state budget deal.

For the past few years many local advocates and some elected officials across the Capital Region have been pushing for companies like Uber and Lyft to be able to operate upstate. The ridesharing legislation that was passed this past weekend calls for a 90- day waiting period in order for the state to set up regulations for it.

“Well, I’ve been hearing this for a long time, so it’s always met with a healthy dose of skepticism,” said Troy restaurateur and long-time ridesharing advocate Vic Christopher on Monday morning. “But when I started receiving the final confirmation, I just felt happy.”

“I’m obviously really excited,” added local restaurateur and owner of Wolff’s Biergarten Matt Baumgartner, who has also been advocating for many years with Christopher.

Uber’s Tri-State General Manager Josh Mohrer released a statement this weekend and they are happy that legislatures worked out a deal on ridesharing this time around.

“Hey, New York - your Uber is arriving this summer! Thank you to Governor Cuomo and the New York State Legislature for working hard on a compromise that will bring more transportation options to the Empire State,” Mohrer said in a statement.

Assemblyman John McDonald III, D- Cohoes, has also been fighting hard for the past couple of years at trying to get ride-sharing services to upstate and he is also glad that it will finally be coming to the area this summer.

“This has been a high priority of mine for the last two years,” McDonald said Monday morning. “It was a lot of work on making sure that everyone’s interest and concerns were heard and listened to and I believe that the legislation that was passed represents those concerns, most importantly we now have a very thorough background search in place. Secondly, insurance thresholds are increased to make sure that those individuals in the unlikely event that there is an accident that they actually have proper insurance in place, which I think is important.”

“Bringing ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft to upstate is a big win,” added state Sen. Kathy Marchione, R,C, I, Reform Halfmoon. “Ridesharing will be good for our economy, good for tourism and good for job creation. This is something that I have strongly supported and was glad that we were successful in delivering an expansion of ridesharing as part of the 2017-18 State Budget.” As part of the ridesharing budget agreement, McDonald said that the Department of Motor Vehicles will be the one to receive and approve the applications of the companies and the companies will be responsible for the compliance of their own drivers.

Many local ridesharing advocates and elected officials shared their excitement Monday morning about upstate now being able to join 48 other states that allow these services.

“Whether traveling on business or leisure, travelers come to expect being able to use services like Uber and Lyft wherever they travel,” said Todd Garofano, president of the Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau. “Upstate NY has been at a competitive disadvantage until now. Ridesharing will also create a new convenience for those working in Saratoga Springs and throughout the region. We’re excited and looking forward to the service beginning this summer.”

“I am pleased that the Legislature has established a framework that allows ride-sharing to come to upstate communities,” added Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, D-Round Lake. “I anticipate that ride-sharing will fill a critical transportation need in Saratoga and Washington counties that public transit systems have not been able to meet.”

Advocates of ride-sharing are also hopeful that the Capital Region will see many benefits from having its services available locally.

“I think certainly from the perspective of people being able to go out and enjoy themselves in our vibrant downtown at the bars and restaurants and knowing that they have another option to get home safely is a great thing,” said Todd Shimkus, president of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. “I think travelers coming to our area that are going to be staying in our hotels that arrive from the train station or airport are hopefully going to have a more convenient and better service to get to their hotel.”

“The most important benefit I think is that drunk driving will plummet since it is just such an obvious way to reduce drunk driving,” added Baumgartner. “Secondly, I am most excited to be able to take Uber because it is such a pain trying to find parking around here sometimes. Thirdly, I amexcited professionally, that people can get to the restaurants that I have where parking is often a challenge.”

Advocates also believe that ridesharing will help to increase the local economy when it comes here this summer.

“It’s one more outlet to get customers home safely and it will create a few more jobs,” said Brian Miller, marketing manager at The Bourbon Room and The Reserve on Caroline Street in downtown Saratoga Springs.

“We now have, finally, approved a critical missing part of economic development infrastructure for Upstate New York,” added McDonald.