Seattle ordinance would charge fee to offset accessible taxi costs

SEATTLE — A new city ordinance to finally legalize services such as uberX, Lyft and Sidecar, poised to be approved Monday, would also create a surcharge to help defray the cost of owning and driving a wheelchair accessible taxi, The Seattle Times reported.

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The ordinance would generate a 10-cent fee on every ride originating in Seattle with uberX, Lyft, Sidecar, nonwheelchair-accessible taxis and for-hire companies, and pour that money into a fund to help pay the cost of owning and driving a wheelchair-accessible taxi. Annual licensing fees for the accessible vehicles also would be waived, according to the report.

The intent is to make it more attractive to own a wheelchair-accessible taxi and ensure that the vehicles are on the street as much as possible.

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