East Hampton bans Uber, and people are freaking out

Uber has been forced to quit operating in East Hampton. The ride-hailing app had been trying to reach a compromise with town officials, who recently enacted a mandate that requires all taxi drivers to have a physical address in the town.

Uber has been operating in the Hamptons since 2012.

According to 27east, the new mandate applies only to users calling an Uber within the East Hampton city limits.

People can still hail an Uber from another city and be driven to East Hampton.

Late Friday morning, Uber sent this note in an email to riders registered in East Hampton:

Today, the East Hampton Town supervisor is banning Uber. New rules would require every single Uber driver-partner to have an office in East Hampton to continue to hold their license, which is impossible for our partners. As a result, riders like you will be unable to get reliable, safe rides in any part of East Hampton out to Montauk—effective immediately. We need your help to bring Uber back. Make your voice heard and contact Town Supervisor Cantwell today—tell him you need Uber in East Hampton.

Cantwell did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Between Uber and the rosé shortage, we’re not sure how Hamptongoers will survive the summer.

The map below shows the areas where Uber users will not be able to hail a ride.

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Some people are freaking out over the thought of not having Uber this summer:

you guys WHAT are we gonna do about uber in the hamptons
— samantha duenas (@sosupersam) June 5, 2015
Last summer: no rosé in the Hamptons. This summer: no Uber in the Hamptons. What’s next?!#firstworldproblems
— Jacob Schulman (@jacobschulman) June 5, 2015
The Hamptons is a huge party scene, so many have questioned whether the town’s mandate will affect neighborhood safety:

Town of East Hampton banning uber…DUI is a huge issue there – as a father with two young children driving those roads, this is madness
— Jon Steinberg (@jonsteinberg) June 5, 2015
Whoa, East Hampton effectively banning Uber. Terrible idea. Reduces drunk driving like crazy. And the cab situation is a joke.
— modest proposal (@modestproposal1) June 5, 2015
People are going to be killed by drunk drivers this summer because @LarryCantwellEH banned Uber in East Hampton.
— Dave (@theballisorange) June 5, 2015
Uber provided this statement to Business Insider:

There is an unquestionable need and demand for Uber in the Hamptons because taxi service has been historically unreliable. For the last several summers, Uber obtained local licenses from the town of East Hampton so residents could get safe and reliable rides with the push of a button. Unfortunately the East Hampton Town Supervisor and Town Board have changed the rules, banning Uber from the town and denying their constituents access to our service.