SIDECAR SCORES PERMIT TO OPERATE AT SFO

Sidecar will be the first transportation network company allowed to operate legally at a California airport when it begins operations at San Francisco International Airport in the next 30 days, SFO officials announced Tuesday. In a release, CEO Sunil Paul says, “We commend SFO for their forward thinking, and for developing a framework that will allow Sidecar to provide safe and affordable transportation to people who live in and visit our city.” Executives at Uber and Lyft are smashing fists on desks right about now.

Airport director John Martin commended Sidecar for coming to an agreement with SFO. “Their proactive approach sets an example for other transportation network companies to follow,” Martin said.

And in a move that proves that City Hall is still looking kindly on ride-share companies despite the fact that our District Attorney is going after Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar for a host of other offenses, Mayor Ed Lee congratulated Sidecar and SFO on the agreement. Says Lee, “San Francisco is at the forefront of the sharing economy and companies like Sidecar are creating real jobs for San Franciscans and making easier to get around our City.”

As the DA’s offices of San Francisco and Los Angeles indicated a few weeks ago, authorities are going to continue to crack down on the presence of Uber and Lyft drivers who don’t have the proper licenses to pick up passengers at the airport.

Meanwhile, the DAs will still be going after all three companies for their seemingly illegal carpool services, and for their background-check processes for drivers. Sidecar’s shared-ride/carpool service will still be outlawed at SFO.

Source: sfist