ATLANTA (AP) - The car-hailing service Uber is hoping students around the country, including those at some of the South’s largest universities, will make the mobile app part of college life this fall.
The company announced Thursday that it will bring service to 22 college towns, including Tuscaloosa and Auburn - home to the University of Alabama and Auburn University. The University of Georgia’s home of Athens also was in the group.
The app lets users see a map of nearby drivers using personal vehicles or upgraded black cars and SUVs, get an estimated time of arrival and cost and order a ride. The system is similar to other ridesharing services and designed to compete with traditional taxis.
Uber spokeswoman Jennifer Mullin said college towns are underserved by taxis and young people understand the service is a benefit. Mullin said ridesharing shouldn’t be regulated in the same way as a taxi service because the app connects riders to drivers with safety checks - including sending a photo of the driver and license plate to riders.
But regulators in several states and cities have expressed concern with driver records and insurance coverage, including in the city of Birmingham where a public spat between council members and Uber this summer delayed a planned launch. The company says it performs background checks on drivers and provides commercial insurance during rides.
Alan Reddish, manager of Athens-Clarke County Unified Government, said it’s clear why college towns are appealing to ride services. But he has some concerns, including background checks and whether the service will comply with the county’s 24/7 operating requirement on traditional taxis.
“There are some questions we’d probably like to get some answers to,” Reddish said.
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