Nick Jayson

According to news reports, New York and Chicago Cities could soon become rivals of Uber and Lyft, after they launch their own smartphone apps for e-hailing taxis, similar to Uber and Lyft. Chicago regulators permitted a plan to develop apps for e-hailing taxis. According to the New York Times report on Friday, New York City Councilman Ben Kallos proposed a similar app for the Big Apple.

The apps would follow the templates set by Uber and Lyft, car service companies that allow customers to hail cabs via apps instead of standing and shouting on street corners while jostling in the rain with other customers. But the competing car service companies have run unpleasant local laws around the United States, and Uber has been banned from Spain and India.