Today the Public Utility Commission granted a two year experimental license to the ridesharing company Lyft to operate in Pennsylvania. This is a big win for consumers as there has long been a need for an alternative to the present taxicab situation in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. We wrote near the end of last year how the PUC had granted two experimental licenses for ridesharing operations and now this approval means there are three companies presently providing transportation via an app platform.
The chairman of the PUC pointed out that the Commission feels that the General Assembly needs to come up with legislation that applies to ridesharing or transportation network company operations. The PUC regulations do contain a statement of policy that applies to the criteria for common carrier authority that the PUC itself can alter and we have recommended that some of the language that serves to shield incumbent providers from competition should be revoked (this was done for limos in 2001). But a statute that covers ridesharing is good policy, and one that embraces competition and consumer choice is even better.
