Ohio is considering regulating two of the nation’s biggest ride-sharing companies as they start to do business in Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati.
Kabir Bhatia of member station WKSU in Kent reports.
Lyft and Uber use smartphone apps to connect people needing a ride with drivers who are in the area and signed up for the service. In April, Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor issued a consumer warning to passengers that, in the event of an accident, they may not be covered by a driver’s personal insurance policy because participating in Lyft or Uber could be considered a commercial activity. Both Uber and Lyft recently expanded into Cincinnati, where cabbies are required to carry $100,000 in insurance. Today, Taylor is at a meeting of state insurance commissioners, and one of the topics is whether to regulate ride-sharing companies. Lyft said in a statement that it carries a $1 million commercial liability policy to cover drivers during the duration of a ride. That’s in addition to the driver’s required personal insurance. Lt. Gov. Taylor says she hopes early next year to hold a meeting with Ohio-based insurance company CEOs to discuss the issue further.
