After months of debate and negotiations, Uber — the ride-sharing company that functions much like taxis, but usually with much lower fares — will begin service in Birmingham soon, which may open the door for such service in the suburbs.

The city’s council finally approved allowing Uber, along with similar companies such as Lyft, to operate in Birmingham proper. The move came after more than a year of haggling between Birmingham and Uber officials. The trial period runs for six months, and requires application for a business permit and background checks for potential drivers.

Uber and Lyft are known as transportation networking companies, which allow drivers to use their own vehicles to pick up riders in their area. Riders use a smart phone app that shows all active drivers in their area, plus the cost for where they want to go; payment is also done via the app. Drivers are not employed by Uber, and can work whenever they please.

Traditional taxi companies, on the other hand, employ drivers directly and charge fixed rates per mile and/or minute using meters. Birmingham’s taxi service is primarily provided by Yellow Cab, which opposed Uber’s entry into its territory.

Now, with the popular service about to go live in Birmingham, will cities in northern Jefferson County follow suit?

Supporters of Uber have posted on social media that they have seen cars from Uber cruising in Gardendale and Pinson, mapping out local roads — similarly to how Google Maps gets images for its Street View service — so that the company’s software can estimate arrival times and fares for customers.

Additionally, other suburban communities have also approved measure that would allow ride-sharing service. Trussville was the latest to approve service, Mountain Brook and Homewood signed on several weeks ago, and Hoover is considering its own acceptance of the service.

Gardendale is already moving toward acceptance of ride-sharing services. Mayor Stan Hogeland said that he has obtained a copy of the ordinance that Homewood enacted to allow Uber, and has forwarded it to the city council for consideration as soon as its next meeting on Monday.

“I’ve requested that it be put on the agenda,” Hogeland said. “Though we haven’t had any direct communication with them [Uber], I felt like it would be better to get something in place for when they do. So many people are saying good things about the service.”

Hogeland said he hasn’t personally used Uber or Lyft, “but several friends of mine use it frequently when they travel, and they’ve told me how great it is. It is something that would benefit our area. Even though we’re further out than some of the other communities and not as heavily populated, it’s something that might be utilized a little more than we think. So I’m just trying to get out ahead of the curve.”

Hogeland said he wasn’t sure what city regulations are in place regarding traditional taxi services.

In Fultondale, Mayor Jim Lowery said he was watching the progress of Uber diligently and that the city was open to the idea. Lowery said the city would likely take up the issue officially once Birmingham completed their six-month trial run and other cities ironed out the issues with their ordinance.

Despite not having an agreement, Lowery said the company can currently operate inside the city, likening the city’s current attitude to the service to its attitude toward taxi companies.

“We have been monitoring it and looking at it in a favorable way, but we are trying to make the right decision,” Lowery said. “We are certainly open to having them serve our community.”

Lowery said he can see the benefit of the service, particularly that it might cut down on instances of drunk driving, thereby safeguarding the public.

Lowery also noted that no one from the company has approached the city regarding a license at this time.