Uber growth unhampered in surprise deal with NYC

FILE - In this June 30, 2015 file photo, Josh Mohrer, far left, New York's general manager for Uber, speaks during a news conference and rally outside New York's City Hall, while inside lawmakers were holding a hearing on the growth of the For-Hire-Vehicle (FHV) industry in the city, with a focus on Uber. A deal has been struck between New York City and Uber on the eve of a highly watched City Council vote that could have placed a cap on the number of the ride-hailing company’s cars on the streets of the nation’s largest city. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File)

By Associated Press July 23, 2015 1 min read

NEW YORK (AP) – Uber cars can continue to be a growing presence on the streets of New York City now that an agreement has been reached between the ride-hailing company and the city.

Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration announced late Wednesday that Uber agreed to a four-month study on the impact of the cars on the city’s traffic and the environment. That was just before a City Council vote scheduled for Thursday that could have capped the number of cars Uber can have on city streets.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and a growing number of public officials who’d been calling for the council to delay the vote, instead cheered the agreement. City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito announced that the study will be passed Thursday but no longer carry a cap.