Uber Ceases Operations in Kansas
Uber has left the state it started in.
The ridesharing service has announced it has ceased operations in Kansas after lawmakers overrode the Governor’s veto of SB 117, a bill that introduces new rules for Uber drivers.
The new law requires transportation network companies like Uber to adhere to certain rules such as all drivers undergoing government-provided criminal background checks. The law also requires drivers to carry insurance for the time when there are no passengers in the vehicle. That time is not covered by business insurance because there is no passenger, but it is also not covered by personal insurance because the driver is behind the wheel of a work vehicle.
According to Uber, overriding Governor Brownback’s veto of SB 117 has eliminated the availability of on-demand safe rides, destroyed hundreds of Kansas jobs and thousands of new earning opportunities in the coming years and singled out the state as the first and only state in the U.S. that has forced Uber out with “unbalanced, backward regulations.”
SEE ALSO: Uber Offering Exotic Car Rides in Singapore
Kansas might be the first state to chase Uber out, but it might not be the last. There are other legislative battles going on throughout the U.S. that could affect Uber, with lobbyists in Texas fighting over how ridesharing should be regulated. Uber has also faced challenges in Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington as well as from governments around the world including China and Germany.
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore