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Transportation is more than just a way to get from point A to point B—it’s also a lifeline to opportunity, independence, and connection. For millions of people in the US, traditional transportation often falls short.

Ridesharing can help fill that gap. The flexible and affordable mobility options available on Uber help people get to work, attend medical appointments, and stay connected with loved ones. We work in partnership with many local governments, healthcare providers, community organizations, and more to expand access for riders in communities throughout the country.

For many people, ridesharing isn’t a luxury—it’s essential. Recent data helps tell that story.

Older adults: staying connected with Uber

Every year, hundreds of thousands of older people in the US stop driving. While some turn to public transit or other mobility programs, many turn to ridesharing to help maintain their independence, reach important destinations like healthcare appointments, and stay connected to family and community.

  • 42% of adults 65+ are driving less or not at all and don’t always have other options, like public transit or other people, to get around¹
  • Nearly 1 in 4 older adults say ridesharing helps them stay connected to family and community¹
  • A majority (51%) of non-driving seniors used ridesharing in the previous year¹

Healthcare access: helping to close the gap

An estimated 3.6 million Americans miss or delay medical care annually due to a lack of transportation, accounting for as many as a quarter of missed medical appointments. ² These barriers cost the healthcare system and taxpayers billions of dollars each year in missed appointments and emergency medical costs. Ridesharing is helping by connecting people with mobility options they may need.

  • More than 1 in 4 adults (29%) who’ve used ridesharing in the previous year did so to attend a medical, dental, or therapy appointment³
  • Uber has over 4,000 healthcare partnerships and supports millions of trips per month to doctor’s offices, clinics, and hospitals
  • Since 2022, Uber has partnered with the Veterans Health Administration to secure health trips for almost 40,000 veterans, providing over 250,000 rides and saving taxpayers almost $200 million through mid-2024 alone
Learn about Uber Health

Night-shift workers: commuting stress-free

For many of the nearly 14 million people in the US who work evening or night hours, ridesharing can be the only stress-free way to commute when public transit isn't running. Nurses and other essential overnight workers frequently turn to Uber to keep communities safe and running.

  • A quarter of night-shift workers (27%) say it’s difficult to access and use public transportation in their community⁴
  • 75% of night-shift workers say ridesharing is important for their safety and convenience when commuting⁴
  • Three-quarters of night-shift workers (76%) who use ridesharing say they consider rideshare services to be essential and not a luxury⁴

People with disabilities: helping to reduce daily barriers

For the 1 in 4 adults with disabilities who lack regular access to a personal vehicle, getting to critical destinations like work and school can be a significant challenge. This transportation gap is one of the most formidable barriers to financial independence—a hurdle that disproportionately affects this community. Ridesharing is an important lifeline for millions of people in the US living with disabilities and chronic health conditions.

  • 50% of surveyed adults with disabilities used ridesharing in the previous year; 28% rode multiple times per month⁵
  • Nearly 80% of adults with disabilities who use ridesharing consider it essential for their mobility⁵
  • Two thirds (67%) of adults with disabilities say that having the option of on-demand, curb-to-curb service provided by rideshare apps is valuable for ensuring they can travel reliably and independently⁵
Learn about our commitment to accessibility

Breaking down barriers to care for economically and medically vulnerable people

The healthcare access gap hits vulnerable, underserved communities the hardest—especially people living in transit deserts or far from reliable care. To close that gap, we launched the Health Access Fund in 2022 with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, providing no-cost rides to medical appointments for low-income patients via transportation grants.

These grants help frontline organizations — free and charitable clinics, federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), hospital systems, affordable housing providers, and social service agencies – integrate Uber Health rides directly into their care programs. So far, the Fund has delivered more than 400,000 free rides across 28 states, ensuring reliable access to essential medical and social services.

Every grantee is a mission-driven health organization with close ties to the community, serving people who are economically and medically vulnerable.

Increasing access to affordable rides

Individuals and families of all income levels, backgrounds, and ages rely on Uber to get around when public or private options fall short. Uber strives to keep rides accessible and affordable for all communities. To help ensure accessibility, we offer options like senior accounts; to help reduce financial barriers, eligible individuals can use Medicare Advantage flex cards for rides. (Eligible flex card holders can also get food and pharmacy deliveries, and SNAP recipients can use their payment cards for meals on Uber Eats.)

Uber’s commitment to affordability extends to entire communities. Uber partners with cities across the country to provide an innovative paratransit solution that saves local governments money compared with traditional paratransit providers. This partnership not only helps save public funds but also leads to higher satisfaction and more reliable transportation for community members.

Why it matters

For millions of people in the US, ridesharing is more than a convenience—it’s a lifeline. Stress-free access to work, healthcare, and loved ones makes communities stronger and healthier. That’s why it’s necessary to keep ridesharing affordable, accessible, and protected.

Partnerships

¹Based on a Morning Consult survey of 1,201 US seniors aged 65+, conducted on behalf of Uber, August 8-14, 2025.
²“Traveling Towards Disease: Transportation Barriers to Health Care Access," Journal of Community Health (March 31, 2013), link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10900-013-9681-1 (pages 976–993).
³Based on a Morning Consult survey of 5,204 US adults conducted on behalf of Uber, August 8-14, 2025.
⁴Based on a Morning Consult survey of 2,153 US night-shift workers conducted on behalf of Uber, August 8-14, 2025.
⁵Based on a Morning Consult survey of 1,056 US adults with disabilities conducted on behalf of Uber, August 8-14, 2025.