Access On Demand pilot with RTD’s Access-a-Ride

Uber and RTD are expanding access to reliable transportation options for Denver residents with the Access On Demand pilot program. Eligible Access-A-Ride customers can now enroll to take 4 subsidized, on-demand trips per day, with a maximum of 60 trips a month, directly via the Uber App, with the goal of supporting everyone’s ability to easily move around their communities. Access-a Ride customers wishing to participate in this pilot must be able to access a standard vehicle.

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How to join the Access On Demand pilot program

1. Download the Uber app
   If you don’t have Uber yet, download it to your iOS or Android device. Already have the Uber app? You’re all set.
2. Request to join the pilot program
   In order to join the pilot, you must reside in one of 4 zip codes (80013, 80014, 80015, 80016) and be able to travel in a regular vehicle.
3. Request your ride
   Once your application has been processed, you will receive a welcome email from Uber with everything you need to know to get riding!

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How it works

Enter your destination. Open the app and enter your destination. Select. Underneath the Vehicle Type selector, tap on the default profile or payment method, and switch the toggle to “RTD”. Request. Request a ride via the UberX option for a 4-door sedan. Certain riders utilizing folding wheelchairs may also request UberXL. Ride easy. You’ll pay the first $2 of UberX or XL trips, and RTD will cover the remainder of the fare, up to $20*. You will cover anything additional and will be shown the total amount you owe at time of request.

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What to expect

Request your ride

When you select your RTD Profile in an eligible zone at an eligible time, the subsidy will automatically apply to your UberX trip, which offers riders a 4-door sedan. Additionally, riders who utilize a foldable wheelchair may utilize UberXL at the discretion of RTD. 

You’re covered

The first $2 of UberX or XL trips will be charged to the payment method tied to the rider’s Uber account, and RTD will be covering up to an additional $20 of each fare. Anything over that amount will be automatically billed back to the rider’s payment method via the Uber app. Customers will be notified of the total amount you owe when you place your trip request.

When and where

All trips must occur on weekdays during “Peak service hours,” between 6am and 9am, or 2pm and 5 pm. Trips must begin or end in the service area shown on the map, and are limited to Uber’s Denver service area.

Track rides

After you request a trip, you will be shown the number of trips remaining, including the current trip, on the request screen.

*Please note that in some cities you may be automatically charged an additional fee for selecting more than one seat. In the event you were charged for an additional seat for a service animal, please let Uber know and the additional fee will be refunded.

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FAQ

• When will the program be available?

  In order to participate, customers must notify Access-a-Ride of their intent to use Uber in the pilot program. After the application has been processed, Uber will send a welcome email with instructions on how to get moving within one week

• How will I know how much I’m paying?

  When requesting a trip through this program, riders will be required to enter the address of their end destination. Upon entering that end destination, you will be provided only with the total trip fare that you will personally be responsible for paying. This will exclude the the $20 maximum per trip RTD is subsidizing (after you cover the first $2 of the UberX or XL trip), as long as the trip is within an eligible area and during a qualifying time, and  as long as you have trips remaining that day.

• What do I do if I have a question or feedback to provide?

  Uber’s dedicated support team is always ready to help. To reach to them with questions about this pilot, please visit them here.

• How many rides do I get per month?

  Each Access-a-Ride customer is allotted up to 4 one way trips per day and up to 60 trips a month.

• Do I have to pay exact cash fare on Uber as I do for Access-a-Ride?

  No, you will need to add a payment method to your Uber account, there are no cash transactions when using Uber.

• How do I know that my account has been activated?

  	After activating, when you log into your Uber app, you will see a toggle option for a “Business” payment method. Toggling on that option when requesting eligible Uber trips will activate the subsidy. You can also visit the Wallet section on the left sidebar menu in your Uber app for confirmation. If you have activated your account, you will see RTD under the Profiles section in your wallet.

• How do I know if I’m eligible for this program?

  For any questions you may have on eligibility for the program, please call 303-299-6560 or email paratransiteligibility@rtd-denver.com and someone will clarify this for you.

• Am I able to use Uber if I am blind or low-vision?

  With VoiceOver iOS and wireless braille display compatibility, the Uber app makes it easier for riders who are blind to get from A to B at the push of a button.

  (opens in a new tab)”>Learn more >

• Will you be offering Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVs) as part of the pilot program?

  Yes, for riders that are able to transfer into a standard vehicle. Uber and RTD plan to launch a WAV option in the Uber app in 2021. Drivers who accept UberX and UberXL ride requests are expected to accommodate folding wheelchairs to the maximum extent possible.

• What are your policies as they are related to persons with disabilities?

  You can view a full overview of our policies at accessibility.uber.com or through the link below.

  (opens in a new tab)”>Our policies >

• What is Uber’s service animal policy?

  State and federal law prohibit driver-partners using the Uber Driver App from denying service to riders with service animals because of the service animals, and from otherwise discriminating against riders with service animals. As explained in Uber’s Non-Discrimination Policy, driver-partners who engage in discriminatory conduct in violation of this legal obligation will lose their ability to use the Driver App. Please read more about Uber’s Service Animal Policy (U.S.) here.

• The fares seem to fluctuate. What is this dynamic pricing?

  Uber’s fares are dynamically priced. This means that the fare a rider sees is based on variables subject to change over time. These variables include (but are not limited to) the estimated time and distance of the predicted route, estimated traffic, and the number of riders and drivers using Uber at a given moment. Dynamic fares help ensure that riders can always receive a quick pickup by matching the supply of drivers with the demand of riders. Dynamic pricing may cause fares to temporarily increase. This encourages more drivers to get on the road and head to areas of the city where demand for rides is higher than drivers’ ability to accommodate all the ride requests happening at any moment. When fares are higher due to dynamic pricing, riders will see the actual fare before they request a ride.

• Why was my trip more than $2?

  You are responsible for the first $2 of UberX or UberXL—RTD will cover the remainder of the trip up to $20. In the event that your total trip cost is over $22, you will be responsible for that additional balance. You will always be shown the amount that you are required to cover within the app before requesting a ride. Tips are not subsidized by RTD, and will be paid from the rider’s account.

• How do I know how many rides I have left?

  	After you request a trip, you will be shown the number of subsidized rides remaining on your Profiles account for that month. Please see the image for an example of where to find the trip count.

• I have enrolled in the program, but I’m not seeing the discount.

  Riders will need to confirm a secondary payment method on their RTD Access-a-Ride Profile before requesting their first trip. This may be done by following the below steps:

  1. Go to the menu on the upper left corner of the app.
  2. Click on the “Wallet” section
  3. Scroll down to “Ride Profiles” and select RTD Access-a-Ride
  4. Under “Secondary Payment”, select your preferred payment method.
• I am not receiving the enrollment email.
  1. Check your spam filter for emails from Uber. Make sure to whitelist emails from noreply@uber.com
  2. Make sure you sign in with your existing account credentials, do not create a new account. If you don’t have an Uber account, you’ll need to create a new one before you can link to the RTD account.

  If you continue to experience issues, please email business-support@uber.com.