Palm Springs City Council approves airport ride-sharing services
People who fly in and out of the Palm Springs International Airport can now use ride-sharing services when being picked up. The Palm Springs City Council voted unanimously to allow people to use services like Uber and Lyft to allow drivers to pick them up at the curb.
The vast majority of people were on either side of the city deciding whether or not to allow ride-sharing series like Uber and Lyft pick up people at the airport. Ride-sharing drivers standing out in pink shirts.
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“They need to pay attention to the tourists and what the tourists want and they want cheaper rates it’s that simple,” said James Smith, an Uber/Lyft Driver.
Previously riders who wanted to use those services had to walk through the airport parking lot and cross El Cielo Rd in order to be picked up in the city hall parking lot.
Drivers and the city say it is dangerous having so many folks who are unfamiliar with the area cross the street. Cab company representatives opposed the vote saying using ride-share services is not as safe as a taxi because the ride-share companies don’t randomly drug test their drivers.
“Public safety is very important and random drug testing is the best tool to guarantee that your driver is sober,” said Bill Meyers, President of Yellow Cab of the Desert.
Council member Christie Holstege, who reintroduced this agenda item that was voted on by the previous council, said that argument is red herring especially since ride-sharing services can be used throughout the rest of the city and said the airport needs to get with the 21st century.
According to council members, Palm Springs International Airport was the last airport in California to allow ride-sharing services to pick up people at the curb.
