Uber will be available in the Alexandria/Pineville area starting Wednesday afternoon.

The popular ride-sharing service is making its app available throughout Louisiana starting at about noon. Alexandria/Pineville was among the communities in the state where ride-sharing services have been unavailable.

"We have heard over the course of the last several years from people in cities and communities that haven't had access to ride sharing," said Trevor Theunissen, director of public affairs for Uber South. "We're expecting a lot of activity and a lot of interest from drivers and riders."

Lyft, the other primary ridesharing service, is expected to be available shortly, a spokesperson said.

Just because the app is online locally doesn't mean you'll be able to immediately line up a ride.

Uber relies on a network of drivers to provide services, so if an area has a shortage of drivers signed up, service may not be available at any given time.

Theunissen said Uber is making a "hard push" to get drivers signed up in areas that are getting access to the app Wednesday. In many areas were Uber did not operate, he said, drivers had already started the process of signing up, so the company is starting with them.

Typically, getting a driver authorized takes anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on whether they have the necessary documentation and how much legwork has to be put into the background check.

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"We're doing all we can in a short time frame to get as many drivers as we can available (Wednesday)," Theunissen said. "I can't promise ETAs, because in some areas we might have five drivers and in some we might have 50."

Uber and Lyft have operated in most of Louisiana's larger cities, but had not expanded into many communities — including Central Louisiana — because the state had not passed uniform regulations governing ride sharing. The Legislature passed such a bill this session, which was signed by Gov. John Bel Edwards last month and took effect Monday.

Louisiana had been one of only a handful of states that had not passed uniform regulations that govern how ride-sharing services can operate. Previously, Uber and Lyft had to get separate ordinances passed in each local jurisdiction.

“We are thrilled to welcome Uber to Central Louisiana,” said Deborah Randolph, president of the Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce. “Uber’s arrival will strengthen the safety of our residents, help visitors reach more destinations, and increase the economic vitality of our small businesses. Access to rideshare is a service that citizens in Cenla, as well as other smaller communities within Louisiana, have long deserved and wanted. Thankfully, it is now a reality.”

Even if it may take some time to get regular service available, Theunissen encourages interested consumers to download the app Wednesday. Although Uber will "flip the switch" on the app statewide at noon, it make take an hour or longer after that for it to be available for download in some markets.

"Hopefully, riders will see drivers available and low wait times," Theunissen said.

Interested drivers can sign up through Uber's website.