Uber, Lyft in legal limbo after agreement expires in Philadelphia

Sunday, October 2, 2016
VIDEO: Uber Lyft
Ride-sharing services Uber and Lyft are in legal limbo once again in Philadelphia.

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- For a group of girlfriends enjoying a night in downtown Philly, there's hardly a reason not to like ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft.

"It was personable. It was nice. The guy was really nice that we had. It was convenient. It was like driving in our own car without having to pay for parking," said Karen Wilson of Folcroft, Pennsylvania.

Tanzie Youngblood of Woolwitch Township agreed, adding taxis are too expensive.

News of the companies now being illegal, once again, in Philly after a three-month temporary authorization expired didn't go over well.

Kathy Irons of Yeadon, Pennsylvania, was surprised when we told her the news shortly after exclaiming "I loved it!"

Since the agreement expired at the stroke of midnight, it places the companies in a legal limbo. Something both Uber and Lyft have experienced since entering the market back in 2014.

"One more reason not to move back to Philly because I live in Washington, D.C., where I sold my car and use Uber all the time," said Katie Glenn of Washington, D.C.

"I'm going to have to start using my bike more," said Gabriella Charles of Old City.

"Well I have two legs, so I guess I'm just going to be walking," said Cameron Robinson of Queen Village.

Thomas Cobbs works for Lyft.

"It changed my life around. I'm not working no more dead-end jobs, I'm legit making around $700-1,000 a week, I paid off all my credit card debt, I started paying off my student loans," said Thomas Cobbs of Wilmington, Delaware.

It's unlikely riders will be impacted though. Uber and Lyft have both said they will continue operations. Cobbs got an e-mail from his employer Saturday that says, in part:

"We wanted to let you know that we are making great progress working with state legislatures on a permanent deal...until then business as usual. If you ever receive a citation or have an escalated issue on the road, we'll be here for you."