On Monday (30), Uber announced that it had suspended passenger transportation service on motorcycles in the city of São Paulo.
The decision comes 23 days after the mayor of São Paulo, Ricardo Nunes, published in the Official Gazette (on January 7) the prohibition of this type of service in the São Paulo capital.
“We understand that the city hall still needs more in-depth studies, which are being conducted through a technical working group that already has the participation of Uber,” stated the company.
“In common agreement, although supported by federal legislation that allows the service, we have suspended Uber Moto in São Paulo,” Uber continued.
“At the same time, we continue working directly with the Municipal Executive to find efficient and innovative alternatives for the mobility of people circulating in the city,” said the company, which continued to offer the service even after the mayor’s ban.
In a statement, the company said that a pilot project to evaluate the viability of Uber Moto had been started this January in the city. According to the company, in 20 days of operation, “no accidents with the platform have been recorded.”
“We started testing the product in areas farther away from the center, at specific times and where the offer of two-wheeled mobility alternatives is already a reality because of logistical challenges and high population density. We tested Uber Moto in places where access to efficient, safe, and quality transportation still faces barriers,” they informed.
The company already offers this type of service in other capital cities, such as Fortaleza and Recife.
The company argues that the service, present in 160 cities in the country, has legal support.
WHAT THE CITY HALL SAYS
In a statement, the city government said on Monday that Uber’s decision was taken after a request made by the mayor “due to the concern involving the safety and health of the population of São Paulo in urban traffic.
“The safety of motorcyclists, the reduction in the number of fatal traffic accidents, and the impact on the public health system are concerns of Mayor Ricardo Nunes,” the mayor’s statement said.
Last week, Mayor Ricardo Nunes reinforced that the Uber Moto service was not authorized to operate. At the time, the mayor said the ban was a safety issue.
“The data and numbers have shown an increase in accidents and deaths here in the city of São Paulo caused by motorcycles. We have 6.5 people per 100,000 inhabitants who die in traffic in the city, and we aim to reach 4.5 per 100,000. So it would be illogical that such an activity, without regulation, without a safety plan, without knowing how this will affect the issue of accidents and deaths, would be authorized,” said Nunes.
“I don’t want war with them, but if they want war with the city of São Paulo, they will get it,” he added.
With the information from Infomoney
More: Brazil news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Read More from The Rio Times