Tag Archives: Department of Administration and Regulatory Affairs

Lyft to leave November 20

Posted on November 10, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

So long. Lyft plans to suspend its Houston operations on Nov. 20, according to a letter sent to Houston Lyft users. The San Francisco-based ride-sharing service is upset over the new regulations approved by the Houston City Council in August. … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Lyft to leave November 20

Lyft leaving?

Posted on November 1, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Sorry it’s not working out for you. Best of luck in your future endeavors. Less than a week before new city regulations take effect, one of two app-based, paid-ride companies is preparing to end its local business rather than use … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Lyft leaving?

Reminder: Uber and Lyft aren’t legal yet in Houston

Posted on October 12, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Drive for ’em at your own risk for the next month or so. New entrants into Houston’s paid-ride market can’t be licensed to operate for another month, but the transition is proving problematic as the companies and drivers rack up … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Reminder: Uber and Lyft aren’t legal yet in Houston

The limits of lobbying

Posted on August 25, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

They do exist, as Houston’s cab companies recently discovered. More than a year of intense lobbying by established cab companies and tens of thousands of dollars in campaign donations to City Council members were not enough to hold off a … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The limits of lobbying

Houston’s payday lending ordinance is now in place

Posted on July 6, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Part of me hopes that there’s a lot of complaints, and part of me hopes there’s very few. Houston’s stringent new rules on payday and auto title lenders took effect Tuesday, reviving industry complaints that it would drive companies out … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Houston’s payday lending ordinance is now in place

Another taxi survey

Posted on June 15, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

From the inbox: Vehicle for hire industry survey The City of Houston has retained Taxi Research Partners to conduct a study of demand within the vehicle for hire industry in Houston. The study will review current market conditions, identify key … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Another taxi survey

Draft ordinance on vehicles for hire is out

Posted on April 23, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Mayor Parker puts another item on City Council’s to do list. A proposed Houston ordinance could legalize hundreds of for-hire drivers providing rides through smartphone applications, but would require those drivers meet the same permitting and safety requirements as taxicab … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Good news and bad news on the Washington Avenue parking benefit district

Posted on March 6, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

As you may recall, a bit more than a year ago Council approved a plan to create a “parking benefit district” for the Washington Avenue corridor, which is a fancy way of saying they approved the installation of parking meters … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Cab companies push back on Uber/Lyft

Posted on February 27, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The first Council action on updating the taxi and limo codes to accommodate Uber and Lyft went about as you’d expect. Houston City Council members struggled Tuesday to strike a balance between ensuring paid rides in Houston are available to … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

More on the Lyft and Uber entrances

Posted on February 24, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a new day in Houston for people who need a ride. Brian Walts was out until about 3 a.m. Friday hitting the clubs, but he didn’t have a single drink or set foot on a dance floor. Rather, he … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Lyft gets set to lift off in Houston

Posted on February 21, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Another option for getting a ride. Prepare to see see pink-mustachioed cars roaming around the city as San Francisco-based car sharing company Lyft launches in Houston on Friday. Lyft is an app-based service that allows anyone to register as a … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Lyft gets set to lift off in Houston

Get ready for the taxis and Uber debate

Posted on February 3, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the first challenge for the new Council. City officials, armed with a new study showing weaknesses in the local system, are inching toward regulatory changes that would open Houston’s cab industry to new players, such as Uber, which enables … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments

On the Parking Benefit District

Posted on December 7, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

A proposed ordinance to create a parking benefit district in the Washington Avenue corridor was on Council’s agenda this week, but it was tagged and will wait a week while everyone gets up to speed on it. District C Council … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Washington Avenue parking

Posted on November 18, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The city of Houston has been trying to tackle the problem of insufficient parking in the busy Washington Avenue entertainment corridor. What to do about Washington Avenue is Houston’s latest public policy discussion of what government’s role should be in … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Council passes noise ordinance revisions

Posted on October 14, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

They’re the first such changes in a decade, and are intended to make it easier to prosecute complaints. The police now can cite revelers, musicians and other noise makers for bass notes that officers can feel from the sidewalk. In … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment