After a year-and-a-half-long battle, ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft can now operate legally in the city.

City Council approved the ordinance allowing them Oct. 16. Transportation network companies, or TNCs, which use smartphone apps to connect drivers and passengers, must have insurance for injury or accidents. Drivers must also be at least 21 years old, have a valid driver's license and pass a background check.

Taxicab supporters fought the measure, but taxi representatives said they are not opposed to the competition. They argue ridesharing services should be regulated the same way as cab companies under existing city laws.

TNC opponents claimed allowing ridesharing companies to operate in Austin conflicts with the city's recently adopted ordinance that bans manual input on handheld devices, or texting while driving. The main way of communicating for ride-sharing drivers is smartphone apps that require the use of a cell phone.

Supporters of ridesharing companies said the need to provide safe transportation for intoxicated people far outweighs the cab companies' concerns if the city intends to decrease the number of drunken drivers.