Andy Davis

aldavis@press-citizen.com

If you're looking to catch a ride with Uber in Iowa City on Thursday, you're in luck.

The San Francisco-based ride-sharing company will begin offering rides starting at 11 a.m. Thursday, the same day an ordinance amendment approved by the Iowa City Council last week takes effect.

"We are excited to launch UberX in Iowa City and bring this additional transportation option," said Sagar Shah, general manager of Uber Iowa, in a news release. "UberX will offer individuals the power to get around Iowa City at the touch of a button and provide an opportunity for many to earn income on their own schedule."

UberX rates will be a $1 base fare, 15 cents per minute, $1 per mile and also will include a $1.15 booking fee, the release said. Riders can estimate their fare online, or by using the in-app fare estimate function.

To use the service, riders need to download the app on a smartphone and create an account.

An afternoon with Uber: 3 trips, 8 miles, $20

Nate Kaeding, the Iowa City Downtown District's retail development director, who has been a staunch advocate of the service, said Uber's expansion to Iowa City improves accessibility to the downtown area.

"One of the biggest barriers of getting downtown is the access and the convenience of access. We want to encourage people to get downtown by walking, biking, taking a cab and other means, and this is just another way they can leave their cars at home and know they have a convenient, efficient ride," Kaeding said. "This is a huge deal for downtown."

Iowa City is now the fifth city in the state where Uber operates. The ride-hailing company already operates in Ames, Cedar Rapids, Des Moines and the Quad Cities area.

"I am extremely excited about Uber coming to Iowa City. My wife and I are semi-retired and we do quite a bit of volunteer work,” said local Uber driver-partner, Michael Turner, in the news release. "Uber is the perfect fit for us. It is a way to earn some extra income that fits our schedule, and we can have a part in providing a helpful service to our community."

Reach Andy Davis at 319-887-5404 or at aldavis@press-citizen.com, and follow him on Twitter as @BylineAndyDavis.