Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Lyft Gets Extra Week to Reach Deal With City

 Uber competitor Lyft is in court defending against a restraining order against the city and state.
Uber competitor Lyft is in court defending against a restraining order against the city and state.
View Full Caption
Lyft

NEW YORK CITY — Ridesharing app Lyft has been given another week to negotiate with the city to find a way to opearte legally, officials said Friday.

Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Kathryn E. Freed had given Lyft until July 18 to come up with a plan that satisfied both the city Taxi and Limousine Commission and the state Attorney General's Office.

That was extended by a week Friday after no agreement was reached.

Lyft verbally agreed Monday to a deal similar to Uber's, with the company operating out of eight licensed taxi bases across their proposed Brooklyn and Queens launch zone.

But TLC Chair Meera Joshi on Friday said the company's ride-sharing service — in which customers use an app to hail "volunteer" drivers and pay a "donation" rather than a fare — has still not reached compliance.

“Over the past week, we’ve worked closely with Lyft to assist them in complying with our rules, as they had committed to doing, and at this point we are awaiting their demonstration of compliance," Joshi said. 

"Lyft has committed publicly and to the court on multiple occasions that they will comply with those rules if they intend to operate in NYC, and we anticipate their validation of that commitment.”

The Attorney General's Office on Friday declined to comment.

A Lyft spokeswoman on Friday characterized the company's discussions with the TLC as "productive."

"We will continue to collaborate with all parties on a path forward for Lyft in New York," spokeswoman Erin Simpson said.

"For our initial launch in New York City we have agreed to complete the process of getting approval to operate under current TLC rules as soon as possible."

Both sides are set to appear again in court next Friday.