Uber drivers use a specious argument by claiming increased ticketing of their vehicles for violating traffic laws in Amherst will lead to more drunken drivers on the roads.
Public safety is the motivation for Amherst Police in cracking down against Uber drivers who obstruct traffic, park in bicycle lanes or block the fire station entrance on North Pleasant Street. Police should not overlook violations by Uber drivers who are jockeying for a prime spot near the bars to wait for patrons who want to use the ride-sharing service.
On March 24, police issued seven tickets to Uber drivers for traffic offenses on North Pleasant Street. Police Chief Scott Livingstone said increased enforcement is needed to keep pedestrians, bicyclists and other motorists safe and to make sure that ambulances and fire engines are not impeded as they respond to emergencies from the central fire station.
“The Uber drivers have consistently blocked North Pleasant Street, while waiting for fares, conducted U-turns in traffic and speed from location to location,” says Livingstone. “It’s to the point where officers have had to issue more warnings and citations.”
Town Manager Paul Bockelman adds, “There is a market in Amherst for Uber. But they have to comply with traffic laws, they can’t double park, they can’t block bicycle lanes and they can’t park in front of the entrance to the fire department.”
In short, Uber drivers are subject to the same rules of the road as any other motorist. While we appreciate that Uber provides a service by transporting people who are too intoxicated to drive safely, that is not a license to commit other violations. And we don’t buy the argument by some Uber drivers that tighter enforcement will drive them away from Amherst and open the door for more drunken driving.
There are plenty of Uber drivers who are able to pick up customers while obeying traffic laws. Demand for the service has grown since Uber began operating in western Massachusetts two years ago. And college towns like Amherst are particularly attractive to Uber drivers because of the large number of students who use the service to get home after a night at the bars or off-campus parties.
Moreover, there remain other options which have been operating far longer in Amherst than Uber — licensed taxi companies, and Pioneer Valley Transit Authority buses that run until after the bars close on weekend nights.
Todd Ellis, of Northampton, is an Uber driver who recently received a $50 ticket for obstructing traffic in Amherst. “Uber drivers are a huge force preventing drunk driving,” he says. “Cops have been giving out tickets to Uber drives picking people up from the bars, rather than working with them to get drunk people home safely.”
Police officers on the street are responsible for enforcing all laws, not negotiating with Uber drivers, regardless of how many intoxicated people they are transporting.
Livingstone already has asked Uber management to email its drivers seeking their cooperation in obeying traffic regulations. An Uber spokeswoman said the company regularly communicates with its drivers about following the rules of the road, including not obstructing traffic when picking up or dropping off passengers. And Uber advises riders, other motorists and police to notify the company of any violations so its safety team can investigate complaints.
State regulations approved last year by the Legislature and governor, which established background checks of all Uber drivers, also require that a decal be placed on vehicles to identify them as participating in the ride-sharing business. However, they are not required to have commercial license plates that taxis must use, nor are they subject to local regulations including the $100 annual license fee that cab companies pay in Amherst.
We encourage Uber drivers, rather than threatening to leave Amherst, to work with the town on guidelines so they can operate safely and profitably. Ellis and other Uber drivers who seek better communication with town officials should organize a meeting with Bockelman, Livingstone and the Select Board. Perhaps the town can designate some parking spaces for Uber vehicles, particularly on weekend nights.
We’re confident that Amherst welcomes and values the services provided by Uber drivers, so long as they stay within the law.