Houston taxi drivers showed up at a City Council committee
meeting Tuesday to protest the possible entrance of two
ridesharing services, Uber and Lyft, into the Houston market.
The cabbies wore T-shirts bearing the words "Licensed, Insured,
Legal," reflecting the established taxi and limousine industry's
contention that the new services, which rely on non-professional
drivers using their own vehicles, don't provide the needed
safeguards to protect the public.  Two council committees met
jointly to consider possible changes in city regulations that
would enable Uber and Lyft to operate legally in Houston. For
now the companies are avoiding regulation by providing free
rides, although the industry contends even this is unlawful.
"Our main concern is public safety," the Houston Area Livery and
Charter Association said in a statement. "When you have an
operator that has to do 100 trips per week to break even,
properly maintain their vehicles, secure proper insurance
coverage and licensing, the math doesn't add