Uber headed to South Lake Tahoe

Fresh powder apparently isn’t the only thing hitting Lake Tahoe in December.

Ridesharing service Uber is planning a simultaneous launch on both sides of Tahoe before the end of the year, filling a key market in its Nevada and California territories.

Uber was not able to provide a specific date for the launch but it could happen as early as late next week, spokeswoman Laura Zapata told the Reno Gazette-Journal.

“We’re building supply and gearing up for it,” Zapata said by phone. “People have been asking about Tahoe, especially here in the Bay Area right now because they’re hearing that ski season is going to be awesome.”

Tahoe has always been attractive to the company but the inability to operate on the Nevada side delayed plans to launch in the area. Following the recent agreement with the state, however, Uber is stepping on the gas to offer its services at Lake Tahoe.

“We are now fully regulated in the state of Nevada so that has made it easier for us be able launch in a place like Tahoe where we know people will be able to go back and forth between the two states,” Zapata said.

Although it will be business as usual for customers once the service launches in Tahoe, Uber drivers have one key caveat to keep in mind. While drivers can drop off passengers on both sides of the state, they can only do pickups within the state that their driver’s license is from. This means Nevada drivers, for example, can pick up someone from Verdi and drop them off at South Lake Tahoe but are not allowed to pick up passengers from the California side.

In the meantime, interested drivers can attend Uber sessions in person and sign up from Monday to Thursday next week at Squaw Village.

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