State Senator starts petition to bring ridesharing to WNY

A new ridesharing petition is is making the rounds in Upstate New York.

State Senator Michael Ranzenhofer started a new petition for New Yorkers to urge Governor Cuomo and members of the State Legislature to expand ridesharing services outside of New York City.

"Expanding access to these transportation companies is long overdue," said Ranzenhofer. "Working together, we can send a strong message: give the green light to ridesharing in Western New York. I encourage residents to express their support for this legislation by signing my petition."

Razenhofer says New York has stood in the way of legal services offered in most other cities and states across the nation far too often.

"There is no reason why residents, from Rochester to Buffalo, should be prevented from requesting an Uber when they could easily do so in Boston, Cleveland and Milwaukee," said Ranzenhofer.

It will take more lawmakers than just Razenhofer to legalize ridesharing across the state, and ridesharing company Uber is doing its part to make sure other lawmakers get on board.

The company released a brand new commercial that says legal ridesharing is what New Yorkers really want for Christmas.

The commercial urges New Yorkers to "join the chorus" and call their perspective lawmakers.

You can watch the full commercial below:

If you'd like to sign Senator Razenhofer's petition, click here.