Uber Launches in St. Louis Without Approval, Sues Taxi Commission

Uber called the surprise launch a “last resort” after more than a year of negotiations with St. Louis authorities.

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Uber isn’t waiting any longer.

The San Francisco-based company launched its ridesharing service UberX here at 10 a.m. Friday, just as the commission tasked with regulating transportation-for-hire in St. Louis city and county met to consider proposed regulations for app-based ride services.

Ten minutes into the launch, the app showed at least six UberX drivers in the St. Louis area available for customers to hail for a ride.

Uber filed a lawsuit Friday against the Metropolitan Taxicab Commission for anti-competitive practices in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act.

“The [Metropolitan Taxicab Commission]—a taxi-dominated commission—has acted to protect its financial interest at the expense of the public,” Uber spokeswoman Brooke Anderson said in a statement. “This anti-competitive conduct is increasing transportation prices, preventing the creation of thousands of new opportunities for drivers to earn income, and reducing the availability of transportation options for St. Louisans.”

Marsha Robyn Wallen, a St. Louis resident who is legally blind and cannot drive, joined the complaint as a plaintiff. She says taxis have left her waiting for hours at malls, restaurants, and grocery stores. Her other option is paratransit services, a shared ride service that must be scheduled days in advance.

“When I’m in other cities, I have the freedom to Uber whenever I want,” Wallen said in Uber’s released statement. “I deserve to have the same transportation options in St. Louis that people have in other cities. But because of the [taxi commission’s] anti-competitive conduct, I am forced to navigate my daily life while depending on unreliable, unaccommodating, expensive taxicabs when there is a better way.”

See more of SLM's Uber coverage:

In April 2014, Uber’s competitor Lyft attempted to launch in St. Louis without taxi commission approval. The commission sicced law enforcement on Lyft drivers, citing them for operating an illegal taxi service. Lyft withdrew its services from St. Louis after just one night and filed a lawsuit.

The taxi commission has blocked Uber’s entry into St. Louis, citing safety concerns. The stalemate has focused on one main issue: fingerprint background checks, which are mandatory for taxi drivers but a deal-breaker for Uber. The commission was expected before the surprise launch to vote to uphold a requirement for fingerprint background checks.

Uber released sample UberX fares on its website, and you can find a fare calculator here

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Here's the lawsuit:

Barely an hour into the launch, St. Louisans were welcoming UberX to the city on Twitter:

Contact Lindsay Toler by an email at LToler@stlmag.com or on Twitter @StLouisLindsay. For more from St. Louis Magazine, subscribe or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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