Ride-hailing app Uber to launch in Wyoming this weekend

CASPER (AP) — People in some of Wyoming’s largest cities will soon be able to catch rides with the Uber app.

Gov. Matt Mead signed legislation Friday afternoon allowing ride-hailing companies to operate in Wyoming. Rides were expected to begin at 5 p.m. Friday, according to the Associated Press via the Casper Star-Tribune.

Unlike most bills passed the Legislature that become effective July 1, House Enrolled Act 84, becomes effective immediately upon the governor’s signature.

Uber has been talking with potential drivers in cities including Casper, Cheyenne, Jackson and Laramie, but will be available anywhere in the state. Exact service locations depend on driver availability.

House Bill 80, known informally as the “Uber bill,” was passed unanimously Feb. 24 by the state Senate with concurrence from the House on Feb. 27. All but one area legislator approved of the legislation with Rep. Nathan Winters (R-Thermopolis) voting against the bill on concurrence. Supporting the bill were Senators Ray Peterson (R-Cowley) and Wyatt Agar (R-Thermopolis) and Representatives Mike Greear (R-Worland) and Jamie Flitner (R-Cowley).

According to an article from the Wyoming Tribune Eagle, the bill legalizes the business model of ridesharing services, which are legally known as “transportation network companies” in Wyoming, as state law does not currently address that issue.

Ridesharing services use smartphone apps to connect passengers with drivers. Drivers use their own vehicles and are paid for the ride, with the ridesharing service receiving a commission.

The entire transaction is cashless, with the app charging the ride to a preloaded credit card or through other payment methods.

The Senate made slight changes to the bill, including one amendment allowing larger airports to require an operating agreement for Uber to access the airport and another amendment that identifies ridesharing companies as not subject to workers’ compensation laws.

Brian Gebhardt, Uber’s general manager for its Frontier States division, said if the bill continues to progress as expected, Uber could roll out its service in Wyoming as soon as March 4-5.

“We want to hit the ground running as fast as we can,” he said.

While the service will be available statewide, drivers, and thus rides, may not be available everywhere.

Gebhardt said Uber has been allowing drivers to register for the service in anticipation of the law passing.