Uber, Lyft Plan Minneapolis Exit Over Pay Rules; Smaller Rivals Look to Fill Void

Uber and Lyft plan to leave Minneapolis on May 1 due to a new ordinance requiring higher driver pay.

Other rideshare companies like Wridz and Empower say they could quickly move into the Twin Cities market if Uber/Lyft exit.

Wridz would need 2 weeks to start operations; Empower already has 200 driver signups.

No other company has yet applied for a license to operate in Minneapolis. Approval takes 2-6 weeks.

The city says companies like Empower would need to get licensed before their drivers could operate.