Officials Consider Allowing Lyft, Uber Pickups At LAX
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Transportation network companies, such as Lyft and Uber, aren't currently allowed to operate at Los Angeles International Airport but that could soon change.
During a Board of Airport Commissioners public meeting, speakers requested that LAX allow popular ride-share companies to pick up passengers, similar to taxis, shuttles and limousines.
"Please implement a non-exclusive license agreement for TNC service to and from LAX," said one speaker.
Currently, TNC services are only allowed to drop passengers off at the airport.
"To have another option to help pay those student loans off and not be in debt is really important to a lot of us," said Lauren Szendrel, a Lyft driver. Szendrel works full-time and is a Lyft driver part-time.
"For me, it helps me pay off my Masters," she said.
Laura Hunt attended Thursday's meeting with 10,000 signatures in support of Lyft.
"It's very important to me because, as a resident of L.A., I want to have options," Hunt said.
But not everyone agrees.
"Since they began operating, our business has gone down," said Michael Giler, a driver for United Independent Taxis, adding that it's not just about competition, but safety. "We operate under a very tight rule base."
Both Uber and Lyft say they insure up to $1 million and conduct thorough background checks of their drivers but neither require fingerprinting.
LAX has set-up recommendations for the TNC services but the board did not make a decision Thursday. They are expected to meet again next month.
