Lyft joins Uber in getting final OK for Pa. service (everywhere but Philly)

Pennsylvania’s regulators say they’re satisfied with the plan by the ride-sharing service Lyft to comply with conditions for a two-year license for experimental service to operate everywhere in the state except Philadelphia.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission said Thursday that the license is effective immediately.

The commission approved Lyft’s application on Dec. 18, pending approval of its compliance plan.

  • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

A competitor, Uber, also has approval to operate in Pennsylvania outside of Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Parking Authority regulates taxis in that city and considers ride-share companies unlicensed cabbies because they do not have taxi medallions, which can run as much as a half-million dollars.

Uber, Lyft and other ride-share companies use smartphone apps to dispatch drivers who use their own personal vehicles.

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal