Free Uber Rides This Weekend as Cabbies Complain of Regulation, Competitors

Even as some area cab drivers say government rules and unregulated ventures such as Uber are killing business, the new transportation service is offering free weekend trips in Montgomery and Prince George’s County to drum up attention.

Friday night through Sunday, uberX is free in Montgomery and Prince George Counties. Users must enter the promocode INNOVATEMD to redeem two free rides worth a value of up to $20 each, the company says.

The free ride promotion is aimed at prompting satisfied customers to lobby Maryland officials for to lessen its regulations on Uber, following the lead of the District of Columbia and Virginia.

Montgomery County Council member Roger Berliner said meetings with drivers in recent months have convinced him the county has ignored issues affecting drivers.

“Based on what I have heard and their public testimony, I have reluctantly concluded that our drivers, many of whom are African immigrants, are among the most disempowered in our county,” Berliner said in a Feb. 19 letter to Al Roshdieh, the county’s acting transportation director, reports The Washington Post.

On Oct. 6, more than 160 Maryland cabdrivers slowly drove along Monroe Street in Rockville demanding changes in Montgomery County’s taxi regulations and protesting against credit card fees they say have cut revenue.

Peter Ibik, president of the Montgomery County Professionals Drivers Union and a Barwood driver, told Montgomery Community Media cabbies are tired of arguing with the cab companies and want the county’s help.

Drivers are members of Montgomery County Professionals Drivers Union, which is affiliated with the 18,000-member National Taxi Workers Alliance.

According to a press release from the drivers union, there are 1,000 taxi drivers in Montgomery County who are considered independent contractors, and are not protected by any wage, hour, or worker compensation laws. The average Montgomery County taxi driver earns less than minimum wage, works between 12 to 16 hours a day, while paying between $100 and $115 a day to lease their taxis from cab companies. Barwood has more than 60 percent of the taxi business in Montgomery County, and charges its drivers 7.9 percent on every credit card transaction. Most drivers lease their cabs and medallions -- a certificate that allows a cab to operate in the county. About 200 drivers own their medallion and cab.

»PHOTO: Maryland cab drivers protested in Montgomery County in October 2014, courtesy of Montgomery Community Media.