City staff tell disability commission Ohio law limits what Columbus can require of Uber, Lyft; city outlines curb, partnership and vendor actions

Justin Goodwin, administrator for the Division of Mobility and Parking Services at Columbus’ Department of Public Service, told the Columbus Advisory Commission on Disability Issues on Feb. 26 that state law largely constrains what the city can require of transportation network companies such as Uber and Lyft.

"That, of course, is unacceptable," Goodwin said of incidents in which rideshare drivers failed to provide required accommodation. He explained that Ohio Revised Code provisions and rules administered by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio preempt many local requirements: municipalities generally cannot impose TNC‑specific licensing, require drivers to be locally registered, or create local certification mandates for those companies.

The limits mean the city cannot unilaterally mandate disability‑awareness training for TNC drivers or impose company‑specific operating rules, Goodwin said. He noted enforcement of nondiscrimination and accommodation obligations is primarily at the state…