Jul 24, 2014 1 min read

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The state Public Utility Commission was scheduled to vote on whether to approve emergency permits for two ride-sharing companies that have been operating in the Pittsburgh area.

The San Francisco-based firms Lyft and Uber use smartphone apps to dispatch drivers who use their own personal vehicles to give people rides. The drivers then share the fares they collect with the companies.

The companies have come under fire over concerns that drivers, their vehicles, and — especially — their insurance don’t meet regulations for taxi cabs and other similar services. The companies have argued their services are just as safe, but have been targeted because they don’t fit neatly into current public transportation regulations.

The PUC’s Bureau of Technical Utility Services has recommended approving the permits, while its Bureau of Investigations & Enforcement opposes them.