Honolulu measure would treat Uber, Lyft like taxi companies

HONOLULU (AP) - Two Honolulu council members want ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft to operate more like taxi companies.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports that the city bill includes a variety of changes. Among them, the measure seeks to broaden the definition of taxi companies while also allowing prices to double during peak use periods, similar to Uber's surge pricing.

City Council Chairman Ernie Martin and Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi introduced the bill. Kobayashi described the proposed change as a consumer protection measure.

Robert's Taxi owner Robert Deluze says companies had input on the bill, but called surge rates "price gouging."

Uber spokeswoman Taylor Patterson says other communities have looked at these types of rule changes. She said Uber and Lyft are technology companies, not taxi companies with fleets of vehicles.

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