A growing number of alternatives to traditional car ownership are popping up on cell phones throughout the Motor City, writes Michael Martinez in the Detroit News.
In the past year alone, two ride-sharing services, Lyft and Uber, have expanded to Detroit. So has Zipcar, a car-share program that lets drivers rent vehicles for up to a week. There’s even a bicycle-share program called Zagster, for those who prefer two wheels over four.
But some of those services — specifically Uber and Lyft — have been dodging fire from city and state officials who say they’re operating illegally, since their drivers don’t have the proper licenses required of all vehicle-for-hire drivers. Lyft and Uber have countered by saying they don’t have to comply with the same regulations as taxis because they aren’t traditional transportation companies. Lyft this week reached an agreement with city attorneys on operating regulations, while officials are in talks with Uber.
Still, their arrival marks a shift in how Detroiters get around town, experts say. As popular spots like downtown and Midtown continue to swell with young professionals, more options are needed for people who by choice or circumstance don’t have a car.
“I think it reflects the fact we don’t have a very diverse transportation system in place,” said Joe Grengs, an associate professor of urban planning at the University of Michigan, who closely watches transportation issues. “Detroit has pathetic public transit. People have a hard time getting around, and this is filling a need in a much more inexpensive way.”
