Boccieri applauds ridesharing service Uber's arrival in Youngstown

State Rep. John Boccieri (D-Poland) today applauded ridesharing company Uber’s decision to offer its services in the Youngstown area. The expansion allows the Valley to join other Ohio population hubs like Columbus, Cincinnati and Akron that all already have access to the service. 

“Having Uber in Youngstown can mean a lot to various people in our community. Ride sharing for professional, personal or economic use makes sense,” Rep. Boccieri said. “I’ve used Uber to travel in other parts of the U.S. and I think this service could mean that we see fewer drunk driving incidents and a lot more seniors being able to get to community functions and doctor’s appointments.”

The application, available for all smartphones, will officially come online at 5 PM tomorrow. Uber’s Youngstown launch comes after the company announced plans to recruit 10,000 new drivers by the end of this year.

In December, the General Assembly passed HB 237, legislation that established initial regulatory guidelines on insurance requirements, fare calculations and other issues for the ridesharing industry. Rep. Boccieri voted in support of the bill.