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What's down the road for Maine's drivers for hire?

More drivers for rideshare services like Uber and Lyft are making it a full-time job. Taxi drivers, meanwhile, are finding new ways to thrive in the rideshare world we live in.

PORTLAND, Maine — Jason Bisping is one example of a Maine rideshare driver who is switching gears by making it a full-time job. Citing flexibility and setting his own hours, Bisping is a driver for both Uber and Lyft.

He is among the many rideshare drivers across the nation who powered off their apps and refused to hit the roads as part of a massive strike Wednesday. Uber and Lyft drivers say they want better pay and work conditions. This, as Uber prepares to go public Thursday.

RELATED: Drivers group plans work stoppage ahead of Uber IPO

As of midday in Portland Wednesday, the strike didn't appear to slowdown estimated pick up times. Averages on both apps hovered between two and five-minute wait times.

"Looking back at my app I've done 14,607 trips over four years with Uber and probably another five or six hundred with Lyft, so 15,000 rideshare opportunities in the greater Portland area," said Bisping. "Being your own boss you can't beat it."

Credit: NCM

Uber and Lyft drivers have made it a full-time job. Now, it's a full-time job for taxi companies to keep up in this ride share world we live in. That's certainly the case for Craig Cobbett, owner of 207 Taxi.

"I was working at another cab company and I wanted to try to give the drivers a better place to work so we opened this," said Cobbett.

That was 10 years ago and things have changed in that time.

"If you don't change then you're going to go under," he said.

He's had to adapt to compete with Uber and Lyft by linking his taxi service to an app and by making sure his fleet is available 24/7, rain or shine. All the while, using the charm of a classic.

Credit: NCM

"It's a little old school people love this car the call and request it," he said. "Uber and Lyft don't have one of these."

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