You can’t take an Uber in Galesburg just yet. Despite a buzz making its way through town and on social media, the world’s largest ride-sharing company has not acquired a license to operate in Galesburg.
Galesburg does sit in Uber’s “Northwest IL” region and Uber’s app allows users to try and secure a ride in Galesburg. However, the city of Galesburg says Uber has yet to acquire the required Transportation Network Company (TNC) license to operate in the city limits.
On March 20, 2017, the City Council approved Ordinance 17-3543 amending our code for Vehicles for Hire to include Transportation Network Companies. According to City Clerk Kelli Bennewitz, there is a $1,500 license fee for the company that would run May 1 through April 30 of each year. She said individual Uber drivers do not need to be licensed through the City of Galesburg.
Uber announced in October 2020 it was expanding services through 39 counties in Northwest, Central, and Southern Illinois — including Knox, Warren, Fulton, McDonough, and Stark counties. WGIL reported the company said the expansion would give Illinois residents access to reliable and affordable transportation as well as prospective drivers the ability to earn money on their own schedule.
Uber media relations has not responded to WGIL’s requests for information on operating locally.
When and if Uber does obtain a license and decides to operate in Galesburg, it has at least one driver.
Zach Shaw of Knoxville said he heard several months ago Uber was accepting drivers in the Galesburg area.
“I just kind of applied through the Uber app, and I got it, actually,” Shaw said.
“I don’t think Uber is necessarily better than a taxi service, but I think it’s good to have in Galesburg as a supplement. Adding Uber will hopefully cut down on people’s wait times for rides.” — Zach Shaw, Knoxville
Shaw thought he was set to be an Uber driver, but was recently notified by the city clerks’s office that Uber was not yet licensed to operate in Galesburg.
“I know the city has been trying to reach out to Uber, and so far, they haven’t been successful,” Shaw said. “So I won’t be driving until Uber gets figured out what they need to do. They just have to paying the licensing fee.”
So, Shaw is ready to drive, once Uber obtains the license?
“Absolutely,” Shaw said. “I think Galesburg is a good market for Uber. We have the Amtrak station which is big. I can see providing a lot of rides from there.
“I don’t think Uber is necessarily better than a taxi service, but I think it’s good to have in Galesburg as a supplement. Adding Uber will hopefully cut down on people’s wait times for rides.”
Shaw said Uber drivers can set when they are available and the perimeters for how far and where they are willing to provide service.
Drivers cannot be under the age of 19 and cannot have more than three moving violations in the past three years and must undergo a thorough background check.
