Skip to main content

Council will seek to even playing field for taxis, Uber

By WTOP Staff

Uber DC, Flickr photo via Mike

A pair of County Council proposals to be unveiled Tuesday could even the playing field between traditional taxicab companies and app-based personal car services such as Uber and Lyft.

The bills would loosen some regulations on the taxicab industry and add regulations for Uber, a strategy led by Councilmember Roger Berliner to allow the popular service to remain in Montgomery County despite protests from local taxicab companies with deep roots such as Barwood.

At an Oct. 9 committee hearing, Barwood Taxi President Lee Barnes continued to make the case that his company is at a severe competitive disadvantage compared to Uber and Lyft because of the county’s long list of insurance, licensing and safety requirements for taxicabs.

A representative from Lyft said at the hearing the company already does background checks on drivers and indicated it would be open to similar requirements being handled by the county government.

Berliner and Councilmember Nancy Floreen will propose a law that would define Uber and Lyft as “transportation network application companies.”

Any such companies would be required to obtain a license to operate in Montgomery County, have all drivers registered with the county and have all drivers subject to local and national criminal and background checks, a national sex offender database and a full driving history check.

While the county would continue to set rates and fares for taxicabs, services such as Uber and Lyft would still be able to operate outside of the fare structure. The bill would limit the controversial Uber practice of “surge pricing,” but only during a declared state of emergency.

The bill would also require Uber and Lyft to carry insurance coverage of at least $1 million at all times, including when drivers are logged into the network looking for potential customers. That would be a change from how Lyft operates now. The company insures operators during rides.

An Uber representative did not appear at the Oct. 9 committee hearing.

A separate bill would make it a little easier for traditional taxicab companies to operate.

The law would amend Chapter 53, the section of County Code that includes a number of stringent requirements for taxicab operators.

The bill would make it easier for a taxicab company to grant a sublicense to another person, an effort to expand the pool of available drivers. It would increase age limits for taxicab vehicles, loosen restrictions on uniform color and marking requirements and allow software-based meters to be used in taxicabs instead of the currently required taximeters.

A public hearing on both of the bills is tentatively set for Dec. 2.

The introduction of the bills come almost two months after Art Holmes, the director of the county’s Department of Transportation, wrote a letter to Uber CEO Travis Kalanick stating his concern that the company operates like a taxi cab company without the proper county taxi licenses. 

In response, Berliner penned a letter to County Executive Isiah Leggett to share his concern that the move might work to “drive Uber out of Montgomery County and detract from our aspirations to support innovation and innovative companies.”

Barwood is being represented by Chesapeake Strategies, a county and state lobbying firm that has worked on behalf of Montgomery County in the past.

Flickr photo via Mike

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote