In one sense, Uber’s decision to open its first New Jersey partner support center in Hoboken is a no-brainer. The ridesharing service, which allows users to summon a car with the tap of a smartphone, has exploded in Northern New Jersey since opening here in 2013, and the dense commuter town of Hoboken is a major epicenter for users, along with Jersey City.
The company says its drivers make more than 100,000 trips per month in Hoboken involving nearly 40,000 riders, which would make the vast majority of residents users.
On the other hand, Uber’s ridesharing service remains illegal in Hoboken, with scores of drivers pleading guilty to operating a non-certified taxi in the last year. And owners from local taxi and limo companies say the service is pushing them to the brink of collapse and complain that not enough is being done to stop Uber. Right now, Uber doesn’t follow (or pay for) all of the same regulations that taxis do.
Unfortunately for the taxi drivers, Uber looks to be here to stay. Two of the city’s most powerful politicians, Mayor Dawn Zimmer and City Council President Ravi Bhalla, were on hand on Tuesday at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the company’s local headquarters.
“I welcome Uber to Hoboken and congratulate them on opening their first office in New Jersey,” said Zimmer in a statement. “As the most transit-dependent city in the country, Uber provides many Hoboken residents with a valuable transportation option.”
Though she said she would continue to enforce the city ban on companies like Uber picking up passengers in Hoboken for now, Zimmer indicated that she was open to proposing “interim legislation” allowing Uber to operate legally in the city if the state does not act fast enough.
A bill to regulate Uber and other “transportation network companies” was passed by the New Jersey Assembly Transportation Committee in March but has yet to come before the full body for a vote.
Changing the law
The bill before the Assembly would establish insurance and safety requirements for transportation network companies like Uber, including full State Police background checks. State Assemblyman Carmelo Garcia, whose district includes Hoboken, voted in favor of the bill.
Uber representatives maintain that the proposed regulations before the Assembly are too onerous and would push them out of the state.
“Uber provides many Hoboken residents with a valuable transportation option.” – Dawn Zimmer
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Zimmer said she had concerns about the proposed regulations, but declined to specify them. However, she did suggest that her patience with the Assembly was growing thin. Though she initially said last summer that any changes to the municipal laws covering ridesharing would only come after the state acted, Zimmer said Tuesday that she would be “open to exploring the potential for interim legislation” if the legislature failed to act soon.
Not accessible?
Council President Bhalla agreed. But he said local legislation would have to require Uber to accommodate passengers with disabilities. Suits have been filed in California, Texas, and Arizona accusing the company of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act by not requiring that its drivers transport wheelchair-bound passengers if they have the space. Uber has claimed the rules do not apply to it because it is a technology company, not a transportation service.
Zimmer said she hopes Uber and the state assemblymen behind the bill will be able to find a compromise “between safety and overbearing regulation.”
Setting up shop
Standing the shadow of City Hall, Uber’s partner support center at 76 Washington St. will serve as a one-stop shop for drivers seeking help with issues that arise on the road. While most of these problems can be dealt with virtually, according to Uber New Jersey general Manager Ana Mahony, drivers sometimes request an in-person conversation.
The support center will also facilitate on-boarding, the process of bringing new drivers into the system, said Mahony. Uber has more than 9,000 drivers in New Jersey, a number that is expected to rise by the end of 2015. Most of those fall under the category of UberX, meaning they use their own cars to ferry passengers.
Before opening its center in Hoboken, said Mahony, Uber was renting out conference rooms around the state to meet in person with drivers.
“Since launching Uber in NJ in September 2013, we haven’t had a permanent home,” said Mahony. “Now we’re proud to have this home in Hoboken, and we’re excited to give partners a place where they can get best in class customer service and support as we continue to grow our business.”
“I have been partnering with Uber for more than a year to earn a great living while being my own boss,” said Maureen Mahon, an Uber driver. “I am thrilled to have one place where driver-partners can go for all the help they need to keep offering reliable rides to residents throughout the state.”
Carlo Davis may be reached at cdavis@hudsonreporter.com.