Celebrating Shared Rides: Five Years and Beyond
Written byFive years ago this month, we announced the beta experience of Uber Pool, a ride option letting passengers share a trip’s cost while heading toward the same direction. Since those early beginnings, our platform has evolved to provide much more: we’ve integrated ticketing for public transit, introduced JUMP bikes and scooters, all while delivering even more personalized ride options. What hasn’t changed is our commitment to Uber Pool, and connecting more people in fewer vehicles whether it involves commuting to work or heading to meet friends. This commitment underpins a strategy around which Uber Pool plays a significant role: facilitating access within your cities and urban environments through transportation that fits your budget.
That’s why over the years we expanded Uber Pool to more than 50 markets around the world, and created features that save Uber Pool riders time and increased ride efficiencies, one of which includes walking to a nearby pickup location. In aggregate, these actions resulted in nine million gallons of gasoline saved and 80,000 tons of CO2 avoided (when compared to UberX trips). We also launched new shared ride initiatives like Uber Bus in Cairo, Egypt–a pilot centered around a high-capacity vehicle option for local riders.
Today, we’re announcing a new feature within our shared rides product portfolio: Non-Stop Shared Rides.When you order an UberX ride, at certain times you’ll be presented the option to take the last seat in an Uber Pool, and be the first to exit the ride. If selected, those who choose to share a ride will get Uber Cash that can be used towards your next ride or Eats order, while getting you to your destination in roughly the same amount of time.
This feature, which is available in several U.S. cities, is one example of how we’re identifying new ways for riders to access a shared ride on Uber’s platform. We’ll have additional examples to share soon, as we’re continuing to focus on ways to do more for riders’ shared experience in the places where Uber Pool operates.
The Non-Stop Shared Rides feature is currently available in Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington D.C.