CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Just more than year after launching in West Virginia, Uber is being offered statewide, according to a company announcement.
Among the latest Mountain State cities to see the addition of the ridesharing service was Wheeling where the first Uber pickups came Tuesday.
“Uber has opened up access to drivers and riders across all of West Virginia,” company officials said in a press release.
“At first, wait times in these new areas may be longer than usual as Uber works to ensure everyone who needs a ride can get one.”
Uber drivers were being recruited for trips that start with base amounts and then increase with time and distance. When demand is higher than normal, drivers can earn more.
Rides are requested and fulfilled via the Uber app available on iPhone, Android and Windows devices. Both UberX and UberXL for larger groups are an option.
In 2016, the Legislature passed a law allowing for ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft in West Virginia.
On July 19, 2016, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and then-Governor Earl Ray Tomblin were the first in West Virginia to request an Uber ride via the company’s app. They went from Capitol Market to the State Capitol.