To: Taxi Services Meadows Field, Kern County Airports, Meadows Field BFL, Uber, and Lyft

Allow Uber and Lyft to drop off and pick up at Meadows Field Airport

Uber, Lyft, and Meadows Field Airport (BFL) are currently in negotiations with Kern County, California, to reach a contract with the county which will allow rideshares to drop off and pick up passengers curbside/door front at the airport.

Currently, passengers requiring service must be dropped off near the property line, the closest one about a quarter mile away, or, drivers have to shut their equipment down early and sneak in as though dropping off a "friend." The driver's penalty if caught, is a $1000 ticket and deactivation (fired). Passengers with disabilities, women traveling alone, and passengers with luggage, have found it especially difficult to walk to the main entrance from the allowable drop-off points (which are not built for pedestrians, not even any sidewalks, and are often busy with traffic), in the early morning hours.

Also, not every Uber or Lyft driver is willing to risk the penalty if they get caught, and this often results in a passenger having to cancel that ride and try again looking for a driver who will go, and this often makes them late for their flight. Bakersfield sprawls out, and it often takes a driver 20-30 minutes just to arrive.

But the only two taxi companies who are allowed to service BFL, do not have enough cars to keep up with the demand in the early morning hours. No other taxis, no buses, and no rideshare vehicles are currently authorized. The distant vicinity of the airport to the rest of Bakersfield, makes walking impossible.

This petition is to show public support to the county, in favor of reaching an agreement with at least one of the rideshare companies, soon. Bakersfield is growing very quickly in general. BFL is adding flights and building more runways, and the need to drop off passengers at the door is growing every day, especially for disabled passengers. During the day there are also plenty of people trying to access the hangars, rental car companies and other venues located within airport property. We drivers want to give our passengers the service they deserve, safely, to and from this airport. Many of our passengers have said they would be willing to pay a fee to get the curbside service, similar to LAX.

The airport is hoping to have a contract in place sometime this summer. Uber and Lyft drivers have created this petition in hopes that it will help speed the process along, by the show of public support. If you live anywhere in the world and you have been affected by the lack of transportation services to or from Meadows Field Airport (BFL) in Bakersfield, California, or if you have had a driver who had to sneak you in or out, please sign this petition. Thank you.

Why is this important?

Uber, Lyft, and Meadows Field Airport (BFL) are currently in negotiations with Kern County, California, to reach a contract with the county which will allow rideshares to drop off and pick up passengers curbside/door front at the airport.

Currently, passengers requiring service must be dropped off near the property line, the closest one about a quarter mile away, or, drivers have to shut their equipment down early and sneak in as though dropping off a "friend." The driver's penalty if caught, is a $1000 ticket and deactivation (fired). Passengers with disabilities, women traveling alone, and passengers with luggage, have found it especially difficult to walk to the main entrance from the allowable drop-off points (which are not built for pedestrians, not even any sidewalks, and are often busy with traffic), in the early morning hours.

Also, not every Uber or Lyft driver is willing to risk the penalty if they get caught, and this often results in a passenger having to cancel that ride and try again looking for a driver who will go, and this often makes them late for their flight. Bakersfield sprawls out, and it often takes a driver 20-30 minutes just to arrive.

But the only two taxi companies who are allowed to service BFL, do not have enough cars to keep up with the demand in the early morning hours. No other taxis, no buses, and no rideshare vehicles are currently authorized. The distant vicinity of the airport to the rest of Bakersfield, makes walking impossible.

This petition is to show public support to the county, in favor of reaching an agreement with at least one of the rideshare companies, soon. Bakersfield is growing very quickly in general. BFL is adding flights and building more runways, and the need to drop off passengers at the door is growing every day, especially for disabled passengers. During the day there are also plenty of people trying to access the hangars, rental car companies and other venues located within airport property. We drivers want to give our passengers the service they deserve, safely, to and from this airport. Many of our passengers have said they would be willing to pay a fee to get the curbside service, similar to LAX.

The airport is hoping to have a contract in place sometime this summer. Uber and Lyft drivers have created this petition in hopes that it will help speed the process along, by the show of public support. If you live anywhere in the world and you have been affected by the lack of transportation services to or from Meadows Field Airport (BFL) in Bakersfield, California, or if you have had a driver who had to sneak you in or out, please sign this petition. Thank you.