ALBANY, N.Y. -- There might be a new way of getting around town thanks to a push by some local business owners.
Launched in 2009, Uber connects passengers to drivers through a mobile app within minutes. Those looking for a ride can locate cars in the area and pay electronically through the app.
"Uber is an international phenomenon right now, it's people that are actually independent contractors, they opt into a service. You call a cab from your phone and you can see where that cab is," said Peck's Arcade owner Vic Christopher.
He says he's called his fair share of cabs for customers after they've had one too many drinks.
"As a business owner, it's embarrassing to call a cab for customers, if they even show up at all," said Christopher. "The cabs are filthy and riders get taken advantage of."
Hearing some of the same from riders, the Albany Vistor's Bureau launched a survey about the cabs back in the winter.
"I have a lot of questions on this quite frankly," said Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy, who sits on the Taxi Issues Committee.
She has heard instances of gouging from colleagues, however, she isn't completely sold on Uber.
"The vast majority of the taxi service is tied up in medical transport," said Fahy. "Where we hear some of the biggest complaints are those who are coming from the train station across the river in Rennselaer."
Since Albany already has it's fair share of taxi companies, the last thing Fahy would want is for them to shut down, but she says more competition could lead to a more level playing field.
"We don't want to drive any of the current business we have out," said Fahy. "Plus, there is some city revenue on that for those taxi services because they pay fees to be liscensed here."
And in the meantime, business owners like Christopher continue to call on local leaders to make Albany the first upstate region to use Uber. They've written letters to the mayors of Albany, Schenectady and Troy.