Ashland may soon allow ride-sharing services

ASHLAND, Ore. (AP) – The Ashland City Council is considering updating its policies to allow ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft within city limits.

The Daily Tidings reported Tuesday that Uber reached out to the small city and asked it to consider a policy similar to nearby Medford’s, because the two cities are so close.

The City Council will hear a first reading of an ordinance that would replace the current taxi code and address ride-sharing.

The recommended ordinance closely mirrors Medford’s, but also incorporates some safety measures used in larger cities, such as a 10-year search for criminal convictions and required vehicle safety inspections.

Portland, Salem, Corvallis, Bend, Roseburg, Medford and Eugene now use vehicle-for-hire services.

Ashland attracts 400,000 tourists a year, mostly because of its well-known Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

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Information from: The Ashland Daily Tidings, http://www.dailytidings.com