Residents and tourists can now find a ride anywhere in the Quad Cities by using a smartphone app. Today, Young Professionals of the Quad Cities launched Uber, a new ride-sharing service that lets people book and pay for rides on their phones.
Mike White, general manager of Uber Iowa, says the Quad Cities Chamber and Young Professionals have been working for 10 months to bring the service to the area. And, thousands already downloaded the free app before it officially launched today.
Residents can apply to be drivers, but must have insurance and a four-door vehicle that's less than 10 years old. Drivers are also required to pass a rigorous screening process.
At LeClaire Park in Davenport, Quad Cities mayors showed their support for Uber, including Davenport Mayor Bill Gluba. He addressed the concerns of taxi drivers already in the area.
For one week, Uber is offering 5 free rides per person. Each ride can be up to a 20 dollar value, and are available by downloading the app and entering the code "Q-C-free."