Catching a ride has changed with the introducion of Uber and other car ride services. Credit: Uber
App-based car services disrupt the regular taxi cab model.
Once, there were cabs. In New York City, you stuck your hand out and waited for a yellow cab to stop. If you were traveling at rush hour, or needed a cab in the rain, or one to take you to Brooklyn, you might be waiting for a long time.
Then Uber came along, with its almost too easy app-based ride hailing – you went outside when you got a notification that your car had arrived, and you didn’t even have to figure out the tip at the end, or wait for change; your credit car info was saved. And you could get a fare estimate before even setting foot in the car.
Uber is now a worldwide phenomenon, along with Lyft, its well-heeled rival (earlier this year, General Motors, invested $500 million in the company). Around the country, several niche car services are carving out their own slice of the pie.
In New York City, we have Via, which has riders sharing cars with others heading in the same direction (via, get it) and GoGreenRide, which uses only hybrid cars.
You can’t miss the pink mustache on a Lyft ride. Credit: Lyft
Women only car service
On April 19, Chariot for Women launches in Boston, offering rides for women, by women. Uber sends a picture of the driver, along with his (or her) name, but there have been many sexual assaults. Chariot for Women carefully vets each driver, and provides riders with the driver’s photo, along with a safe word.
Oh, and 2% of every fare, 24 hours a day, goes to women-focused charities (riders can choose one of 10 charities).
Children only
HopSkipDrive in Los Angeles and Orange County, and Shuddle, in San Francisco and the Bay Area, cater to children only, and parents get a text message when their unaccompanied minor gets picked up and dropped off. Children have a safe word to use here as well.
Have you tried any of the niche car services, or do you know of another local service? Let us know in the comments.
Judy Antell
I use Uber since it’s offered practically everywhere, however, when in LA and NYC I will use LYFT as it is often cheaper and I’ll have promotions to apply to further discount the trip. According to the drivers I speak with most toggle between Lyft and Uber anyway, so the experience is pretty similar.