Portland raises Uber and Lyft fees to $2 per ride

(JUNE 30, 2025) Starting July 1, 2025, people who take Uber or Lyft in Portland will have to pay more. The city will charge a $2 fee for each ride. This is the highest ride-share fee in the United States.

Before, the fee was only 65 cents. The city says the new fee will help make $10 million each year. This money will go to the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) to help fix roads and improve safety.

Some city leaders say the change is important because the city does not have enough money for transportation. One city councilor said, “We need to fix our streets.”

However, not everyone is happy. Some Uber and Lyft drivers worry that the higher cost will stop people from using ride-share. One driver said, “We will get fewer customers.”

Uber also does not agree with the new fee. A spokesperson said it is too high and not fair for everyday rides.

Other cities charge less. For example, Seattle adds 85 cents per ride, and Denver adds only 34 cents. Some cities, like Milwaukee (in the state of Wisconsin) and Nashville (in the state of Tennessee), do not charge anything.

Portland city leaders voted 8 to 4 to approve the new fee. The money will also help pay for Vision Zero, a program to make streets safer for walkers, bikers, and drivers.