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Uber Car Service Exploring Midland as a New Location

A new way to get a ride in Midland could be in the works. The popular Uber car service is exploring the tall city as possible new place to call home.

MIDLAND, TX (KWES) - A new way to get a ride in Midland could be in the works. The popular Uber car service is exploring the Tall City as possible new place to call home. Midland, Texas, is now listed under cities on the Uber car service website. Right now, it seems they're riding under the radar but if popularity grows, city officials say they should come together.

"Well a lot of times that's the way it works. In a lot of cities, Uber maybe started operating without the city's knowing and then they came together and created an ordinance that works for everyone," said Sara Bustilloz with the City of Midland.

Taxi's, shuttles and limo's all fall under a city ordinance.

"Public safety is a huge reason that we have a current ordinance," said Bustilloz.

Factors like background checks, the vehicles condition and the price rate are things that an ordinance creates guidelines for.

"As far as the city of Midland, what we would want is to be able to sit down with somebody from Uber to talk about what their needs are and whether that matches up with our current ordinance," said Bustilloz.

Right now, there are 27 registered taxis in the city of Midland. Making sure Uber doesn't put a dent in their business is also something the city would consider.

"Taxi driving isn't as big of an industry here as maybe it is in big cities but obviously we still need to keep them in mind as we move forward," said Bustilloz.

Many locals told NewsWest 9 they would jump at the chance to hop in an Uber ride.

"Absolutely. Yes. It's more convenient. Generally I just feel safer in it. Yeah I use it whenever I can. I've used it in Austin. I've used it in Dallas. You know, the larger cities. It's just much more convenient and usually a lot cheaper," said one Midland Resident.

We're told Uber has not reached out to the city of Midland yet.

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