Taxi-Based App ‘Curb’ Slams Uber for “Illegal” Activities in Portland

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Tuesday, December 09, 2014

Kyle Curtis, GoLocalPDX Contributer

This past weekend, the app-based rideshare company Uber began offering unauthorized rides within Portland city limits. While some residents welcome the company’s ability to increase transportation options, Uber also has its share of critics—including Curb, an app-based company that partners with Broadway Cab and Radio Cab to connect users with reliable rides from professional drivers.

In response to Uber offering its unauthorized services within city limits, Curb’s vice-president of marketing, Matt Carrington, provided the following statement to GoLocalPDX:

With it's illegal launch, Uber clearly demonstrated that it places itself above the law in Portland. Uber thinks it can use it's Wall Street money to pay city fines and attack civil servants, while dangerously cutting corners on consumer safety and fair pricing.
 
Curb has shown that working openly within the existing legal and regulatory frameworks does deliver better taxi service to the people of Portland. We work closely with over 700 local taxi drivers and 3 taxi companies to provide safe, reliable rides, improving service for local riders while earning more income for our driver partners.

Curb plays by rules set by Portlanders. Uber plays by rules set by Uber.

Uber negotiated with the City of Portland for over a year to determine how its business model can operate within the city’s regulations before deciding to offer its unauthorized services this past weekend. Portland’s Bureau of Transportation warned that Uber’s activities are illegal, resulting in the city filing suit on Monday to cease Uber’s operations.

Uber has yet to respond to Curb’s statement by press time.

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