Help Bring Uber to Las Vegas

Uber Help!

Several months ago, I was in Las Vegas for the annual Boarding Area conference. After stepping off the plane, I headed to the ground transportation area of LAS airport, only to find out that Uber doesn’t exist in Las Vegas. I hailed a cab, and paid over $20 to go just 5 minutes down the road, and barely 3 miles. To say that I was ripped off was an understatement. To make matters worse, I didn’t have any cash on me at the time, and had to pay by credit card where you are charged an exorbitant fee on top of your regular fare. I’ve had some great experiences with Uber, and enjoy using the service. Due to an unscheduled bathroom break, Uber even refunded me back the entire cost of my trip, which was unexpected.

Since my last visit to Vegas, there’s been lots of posts from other bloggers on media outlets about why Uber isn’t in Las Vegas. In fact, Uber did appear in the city for a few hours, only to be shut down a short while later.

I support Uber, and I support Uber in Las Vegas where the city is controlled by expensive cabbies.

Uber has an ongoing petition on their website to gather signatures in support of their service in Vegas:

This past October, Uber launched in Nevada, answering the call of tens of thousands of residents looking for a better way to move around their cities. In the following weeks, we helped connect riders with more than 25,000 safe, hassle-free rides. And nearly 1,000 Nevada drivers were able to partner with Uber to start their own small business and earn an income on their own terms.

But in late November, we chose to temporarily pause operations in the state, allowing time for us to work with your elected officials to create a permanent regulatory framework that supports uberX ridesharing in Nevada. In 2014 alone, 19 cities and states across the US embraced ridesharing by passing laws to affirm the innovation and economic impact it represents. We’re eager to add Nevada to that list!

We need your help to make sure that Uber will be in Nevada for the long term. Drivers deserve the opportunity to get back on the road and make an honest living, and riders should have access to reliable transportation. Sign the petition and let the world know that #NVneedsUber!

The website allows you to fill out an electronic form, that will eventually be compiled with electronic signatures to send to local officials:

Catherine Cortez Masto Attorney General
Brian Sandoval Governor
Dear [Recipient’s title] [Recipient’s name],

As a Nevadan, I am writing to urge you to stand with the people of Nevada in support of Uber and the choice and opportunity it provides.

Nevadans desperately want and need better, more innovative ways to move around their communities — Uber can help meet that need, as it is currently doing in more than 220 cities and 45 countries around the world.

Regulators shouldn’t stand in the way of consumer choice and economic opportunity simply to enrich a deeply-entrenched taxi industry. Millions of riders have voted for Uber with their pocketbooks and hundreds of thousands of drivers are earning more than they ever could in a taxi by partnering with Uber.

Voters like myself consider this a critical issue and I hope that you will work with Uber to find a permanent home for ridesharing in Nevada.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
[Your first name] [Your last name] from zip code [Zip Code]

#NVneedsUber

As you can see, even as a Virginian, I was able to sign the petition. I support Uber in Las Vegas!

 

So, if you have the chance, and support Uber’s operations, take a moment to fill out their petition for service in LAS.