How Uber's Latest Idea Could Change Mass Transit
The new service Uber is testing could rival city buses.
— -- Uber has already disrupted the taxi industry and now the ride-sharing app has its sights set on potentially storming another bastion of transportation -- the city bus.
Uber's latest service, UberHop, will begin its pilot program in Seattle this Thursday with a focus on commuters. Passengers traveling a similar route will be paired with a driver and be given a specific location to meet-up. From there, riders will be able to exit the vehicle at a pre-determined stop and walk to their final destinations.
The service will be available on select routes during commuting hours, according to a blog post from Uber.
The pilot is one of several ways Uber said it is trying to take more cars off the road. The company said it's estimated that the average American commuter spends as many as 42 hours a year stuck in traffic.
Uber is also testing a new feature in Chicago called uberCOMMUTE, which will allow vetted drivers to share their commute and find a passenger going the same way to help share the cost of the trip. The pilot program will also include "standard Uber safety features including GPS tracking, 2-way feedback and a way for drivers and passengers to share their estimated time of arrival with someone outside the vehicle."