Uber-free Eugene ready to rejoin ride-hailing trend

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) – Uber appears ready to return to Oregon’s second-largest city.

City councilors in Eugene voted Wednesday to begin the process of amending regulations to suit Uber and other ride-hailing services.

Uber operated in Eugene for less than a year before leaving in April 2015. At the time, a city hearings official ruled that the company must secure a vehicle-for-hire license to continue service.

The Register-Guard reports that elected leaders have been under pressure from city business leaders and other residents to soften their position.

Local taxi drivers oppose changing rules to benefit Uber. On Wednesday, about a half-dozen of them urged councilors to avoid harming the existing taxi industry.

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Information from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com