video: NEW: Uber Releases Video of Happy Portland Drivers

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

GoLocalPDX News Team

A controversial ‘ride-sharing’ app released a video Tuesday of happy Uber drivers testifying how much they liked driving in Portland for Uber.

The company has service in over 100 cities around the world. A mobile app matches people who want a ride with others who will drive them where they want to go with their own cars. Transactions are also handled with the app.

Uber began operating illegally in Portland on Dec. 5. The city has had $67,750 in fines leveled against it so far, Bryan Hockaday told GoLocalPDX Monday.

The city does not allow for unregulated taxis and while officials have said they would look at reforming regulations, Uber stated it could no longer wait and began letting drivers operate in the city.

“I understand their concerns in protecting the jobs of the cab drivers,” said one driver only identified in the video as Charlie. “But I think more drivers would make more money with Uber than they would driving their cabs.”

In the three and a half minute video, drivers for Uber stated that they like the flexibility and extra money that the company allowed them to earn.

They company has also been widely criticized for labor practices. Uber drivers tried to unionize last month in Seattle.

In the video released Tuesday, drivers also talked about how excited people were to have the service in town.

“They were doing selfies outside the car,” Charlie said of his first customers.

The company is circulating a petition, with over 1,000 signatures on it, asking that the city allow it to continue to operate.

The city has filed an injunction against the company which has been taken to federal court.