Updated: April 11, 2024

Having a variety of transportation options is crucial to supporting our tourism and hospitality workforce, business and leisure travelers, and convention attendees. We support funding structures that give transportation network company drivers a fair wage while also ensuring consumers have options available to meet their transportation needs.

On April 11, the Minneapolis City Council delayed implementation of a new city ordinance related to rideshare driver pay. The ordinance, now set to begin on July 1, 2024, has led to the threats of Uber and Lyft ceasing operations in Minneapolis.

Delayed implementation will allow for more discussion, review, and potential revisions of the ordinance, as well as provide a window of opportunity to coordinate with any statewide policy that may be forthcoming.

We continue to monitor this situation closely and share updated information with our customers. We remain hopeful that a solution can be found so that any impact to rideshare users – including out-of-town visitors, convention attendees, and tourism and hospitality workers – is negligible.

Does Minneapolis currently have rideshare options available?

Yes, people traveling to or from Minneapolis can currently utilize both Uber and Lyft as rideshare options.

Will Uber and/or Lyft be available in Minneapolis starting in July?

Both companies have stated they will cease operations in Minneapolis starting July 1, after a new city ordinance related to driver pay goes into effect. Uber has said it will cease operations in the seven-county metro, including the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Lyft has said it will pull out of Minneapolis only — no pickups or drop-offs within the city limits.

The City of Minneapolis and the State of Minnesota remain in conversations about transportation alternatives if this comes to fruition.

Why would Uber and/or Lyft leave Minneapolis?

Both companies have threatened to leave Minneapolis after a new city ordinance passed that would increase driver pay.

According to USA TODAY, the Minneapolis City Council’s "ordinance would require rideshare companies to pay their drivers a minimum rate of $1.40 per mile, $0.51 per minute, or $5 per ride driven, whichever is bigger. Advocates for the ordinance say this would pay drivers the equivalent of Minneapolis' $15.57 minimum wage. Uber and Lyft say they won't make a profit at that rate."

Are any actions taking place to prevent Uber/Lyft from leaving Minneapolis?

On April 11, the Minneapolis City Council voted to delay the start date of the new city ordinance related to rideshare driver pay from May 1 to July 1.

“This [extension] is to create a more reasonable timeline for continuing our legislative process, while tracking discussions and ongoing collaboration with state officials in their work to craft a statewide policy on this issue,” City Council Member Katie Cashman said. (MPR News)

Council members are divided on setting a lower minimum rate than what is outlined in the new city ordinance. The extra two months before implementation of the city ordinance still allows council members “to come up with a more refined rate proposal.” (Star Tribune)

In addition, state lawmakers could override the Minneapolis ordinance with statewide regulations, and multiple rideshare bills are being considered in the legislature. However, a coalition of Minneapolis City Council members urged legislators representing Minneapolis to avoid that route.

Have Uber and Lyft threatened and/or pulled out of other U.S. cities in the past?

Yes. Both companies left Austin, Texas, in December 2016 and returned by May 2017. (The Texas Tribune). They also threatened but never actually left New York state and Washington state.

According to Axios, “Driver advocates and legal scholars doubt Uber and Lyft's threats. They point out rideshare companies are still operating in New York City, New York state, and Washington state — all places where new rules or legal settlements require higher driver pay.

What is being done to address the possible departure of Uber and/or Lyft?

On April 11, the Minneapolis City Council voted to delay the start date of the new city ordinance related to rideshare driver pay from May 1 to July 1. Council members said it would allow more time for new rideshare companies to start up and potentially fill gaps left by Uber and Lyft. (Star Tribune)

According to the City of Minneapolis, the mayor and the City of Minneapolis are engaging stakeholders about the impacts. Included are the airport, members of the tourism and hospitality industry, disability advocates, Metro Transit and others.

Additionally, the Minnesota State Legislature is considering preempting the Minneapolis policy with a statewide law that could keep Uber and Lyft operating as normal.

The Associated Press reports: “[Governor Tim] Walz told AP he hopes the Legislature will seek a compromise that includes fair pay for drivers but also dissuades the companies from leaving the market.”

If Uber and Lyft leave Minneapolis, what other transportation options are available?

Metro Transit offers light rail, buses and commuter trains.

Metro Mobility provides shared rides for people who are unable to use regular fixed-route buses due to a disability or health condition.

Taxi companies licensed to pick up people in Minneapolis:

• ABC
• All Somalis Community of Minnesota and Worldwide Service
• Blue & White
• Express
• Rainbow
• Red & White

How can one get to/from MSP Airport and Minneapolis without Uber or Lyft?

Metro Transit’s Blue Line light rail is the most convenient way to get to or from the airport and downtown Minneapolis. There are five downtown Minneapolis stops on the Blue Line. (Details here.)

• The trains run every 12-15 minutes, starting at roughly 4 a.m. until 11:30 p.m. The average trip time to downtown Minneapolis is approximately 25 minutes.
• To find the Terminal 1 platform, follow signs to the baggage claim and then go down the escalator for the tram to the METRO Blue Line station. Take the tram all way to the Red/Blue Ramps, then take the escalators down to the station platform.
• For the Terminal 2 platform, take the escalator near Ticketing to the Orange Ramp skyway. From there, follow signs to the LRT station and then go down one level to the platform.

The second option is to take a taxi.