April, 2016

The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo

Governor of the State of New York
633 Third Ave
New York City, NY 10017
Dear Governor Cuomo:
We want to commend you for recently identifying ridesharing platforms as a significant area of
interest for your administration. As the Mayors of the four largest upstate cities with limited
transportation alternatives, we write to urge you to support sensible legislation that would
eliminate the administrative and insurance barriers to peer-to-peer ridesharing across New York
State.
Our cities are in dire need of additional transportation options that will foster
economic development by encouraging people to venture downtown for dinner or a night out
with the peace of mind that they can get a ride home reliably and safely. Peer-to-peer
ridesharing would offer an innovative,
flexible,
21st
Century
solution
to
the
transportation
deserts
many
upstate
municipalities face, while also providing an
opportunity for the State to set standards that would ensure public safety and consumer
protection.
In addition, our residents would greatly benefit from the flexible economic opportunities that
come with being a driver on a transportation network. Companies like Lyft and Uber offer
an innovative platform on which people who wish to make extra money using their cars can
give rides to people who wish to get places within the city safely and conveniently. Drivers
essentially get to be their own boss, driving only when it suits their schedules and using their
assets and knowledge of the area to bring in extra income on their own terms. The vast
majority of drivers on peer-to-peer ridesharing platforms nationwide are either employed
full time, retirees, or enrolled college students. Ridesharing allows those drivers the
opportunity to make additional income and be active in their communities.
It is a known fact that consumers are embracing these innovative services as both an
economic opportunity and as a safe way to travel around our communities. Peer-to-peer
ridesharing has also been shown to reduce the number of cars on the road, thus alleviating
traffic congestion, CO2 emissions, and drunk or impaired driving.

As you craft your priorities ahead of the 2016 Legislative Session, we urge you to stand with the
ridesharing community and support sensible legislative language that would bring peer-to-peer
ridesharing to Upstate New York.
Sincerely,

Mayor Byron W. Brown, City of Buffalo

Mayor Stephanie Miner, City of Syracuse

Mayor Lovely Warren, City of Rochester

Mayor Kathy Sheehan, City of Albany

CC: Counselor Alphonso David