UberX is now illegial in Philadelphia after a municipal judge ruled on Thursday that it must cease operations.
Credit: , ,UberX and Lyft can now operate legally in Philadelphia, only days after a judge's order declared them illegal.
On Friday, Common Pleas Court Judge Linda Carpenter's cease and desist order against UberX was stayed by a temporary injunction ordered by Judge Robert Simpson of the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania. Uber is celebrating Judge Simpson's decision, the company said in a press release, but urged the Pennsylvania General Assembly to produce permanent legislation regarding ride-sharing.
In July, the Philadelphia Parking Authority granted temporary legality to the ride-sharing companies. The agreement expired on Oct. 1, placing the companies in "legal limbo," according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. The PPA had announced they will begin treating UberX as illegal again.
"If Harrisburg does not act in the next two weeks, hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians could again lose access to affordable transportation and meaningful income opportunities," Uber said in a press release at the time.
The PPA is also making changes in its treatment of taxicab companies, relaxing regulations that may make it more difficult for company owners and drivers to compete against Uber and Lyft. These relaxed regulations were brought about partly by a lawsuit against the PPA by taxi company owners.
Some of the regulatory changes include an increase in vehicle mileage limits, the removal of shields between the drivers and the passengers and the removal of the requirement for cabs to be installed with two-way radios, the Inquirer reported.
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