BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Uber says it's expanding to every Louisiana parish after lawmakers seeking broader transportation access outside major cities created statewide regulations for ride-hailing services.
The new law governing the transportation networks took effect Monday, and Uber announced that its services will be available statewide starting Wednesday. Interested drivers can sign up through the Uber website and riders can download the phone app.
Ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft have operated only in a handful of markets in Louisiana, including Baton Rouge, Lafayette and the greater New Orleans area.
The companies refused to negotiate on a municipality-by-municipality basis, saying piecemeal regulations would make compliance for drivers difficult. They sought the statewide rules passed by lawmakers and signed by Gov. John Bel Edwards.
Louisiana's transportation department will regulate the transportation networks.
