Wilmington cabbies say Uber drivers are coming from Philly, Maryland and New Jersey

Uber is taking Delaware by storm.
A memorandum between the state and Uber that places regulations on the ridesharing service is awaiting finalization, and according to the Delaware Department of Transportation, the deal is expected to be completed in the coming days. Meanwhile, there’s no shortage of Uber drivers around Wilmington’s Amtrak station — whether the rides are illegal or not.
Needless to say, Delaware cab drivers are not thrilled.
“Some drivers, they come from Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania,” said a taxi driver who only identified himself as Khalid. “We know this. It’s a problem.”
According to Khalid and his associates, the highest concentration of Uber drivers builds up in the mornings, right before the trains pull into the station at 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
When asked for comment, Uber Eastern North America Communications Lead Taylor Bennet replied with the same statement the company has been providing Delaware news organizations since April:
“We’ve seen overwhelming demand from riders and drivers across Delaware looking for greater transportation options and economic opportunity, and we’re continuing to explore the market as a home for Uber. We’ve had positive and productive meetings with Governor Markell and his staff, and it’s clear the state of Delaware embraces innovation.”

According to a group of taxi drivers who routinely hang around the station, their biggest concern is customer safety.
“They don’t have insurance,” said Khalid, adding that he pays almost $5,000 in insurance every year. “I am not against [Uber drivers] — if they want to work, no problem. But they need validation.”
Uber has infamously bullied its way into new territories despite government regulations. Taxi drivers agree that they don’t mind higher-end Uber services like UberBlACK. That’s not their competition. It’s the more affordable UberX service they’re upset with.
“Some of [the drivers] are smart,” said Khalid, pointing to an Uber driver parked outside the Amtrak station with his license plate placed in the rear window rather than the bumper. “He moved his tag there because he knows he’s here illegally.”
What’s really eating Wilmington’s taxi drivers is the lack of action on behalf of DelDOT. The agency is more or less allowing Uber to operate in legal grey area while the pending deal with the state — openly endorsed by Governor Markell — awaits finalization.
DelDOT did not respond to our request for comment.
A handful of local governments have cracked down on illegal Uber operations, while others bide their time, refusing to take action until favorable legislature is passed. Both strategies have been met with harsh criticism, begging the question — what is the right approach?