I live next door to the largest city in Southern Oregon, boasting a population of somewhere around 80,000, with the greater Rogue Valley/Jackson County home to at least 150,000. Medford boasts a busy regional airport, two medical centers, a community college and businesses ranging from sawmills and manufacturing plants to wineries and fruit orchards. Within the region lie a state university (Southern Oregon State), concert and event venues (the Britt Festival and the Southern Oregon Expo) and a world-class theater company (Oregon Shakespeare Festival). For outdoors enthusiasts, myriad opportunities exist for communing with nature whether you’re a golfer, backpacker, fisherman, hunter, boater or skier.

One thing the region hasn’t had, up until now, is ride sharing. There are several small taxicab companies and a limo rental service or two, but no Uber or Lyft. I’ve come to appreciate having that option when I visit Portland, Seattle or Los Angeles, so I was pleased when the city council decided to approve the operation of ride-sharing companies this fall, with service beginning December 1.

When the issue was first raised, the usual objections were voiced . . . mostly by those small cab operators, concerned about the competition and what it would do to their businesses. A recent interview with one of those individuals indicated she hadn’t seen a drop-off in her business. She noted that she has built up a good relationship with her regular customers, and while she believed some others had seen a decline in their calls, she felt that, overall, competition could be good for all concerned.

Here in town, because I have my own car at my disposal, I doubt I’ll use the ride-sharing option very often. On the few occasions where I’m attending an event where parking may be tight (a concert, perhaps) or drinking may be involved, I will be happy to have this inexpensive choice. While still in its infancy, I think we’ll need to give it a little time to see how this works out for riders and drivers. The most accurate evaluation will have to come after we’ve been through a busy summer season, when more visitors will have the chance to use the service. Right now, riders may travel from Medford to Ashland, where the university and OSF reside, but Ashland’s city council will have to approve ride sharing for pick-ups to be made there, so that may have some negative effect. For now, I’m glad my community offers another transportation option.

— Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor