You've got to walk. Yep, that's right. Uber's new carpool service, Express POOL, wants you to walk -- but only for a little bit of the journey.
So while the prices are cheaper, you will have to do some walking in exchange. Express POOL is basically a twist on the already existing Uber POOL, which allows drivers to pick up more than one rider at a time. Express focuses on pairing riders that are heading in the same direction, to deter any delays or detours. This new service was implemented in cities across the country, including Denver, on February 21. Other cities with the new service include Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Miami, Philadelphia, and San Diego, with more on the way. Ethan Stock, director of product at Uber, told The Verge:"We think carpooling is very much the way of the future ... the transformation of car ownership towards carpooling is going to be tremendously beneficial for cities, for the environment, for all the reasons that we're very familiar with -- congestion, pollution, etc."
Here's how it works:
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Courtesy of Uber[/caption]
From the look of things, this new carpool service functions more like a bus stop than a ride-sharing service, though, there are some differences. Only three people are allowed to ride at a time, and there are no set routes. It's been said that this Express POOL service will be up to 30 percent cheaper than Uber POOL.
"The mission is to make it possible for everyone to experience the magic of Uber every day," said Stock. "And make it affordable to new riders."
What do you think of the new carpool service? Will you be trying it out? Also, do you think it will have an impact on public transportation at all? Let us know in the comments below, and let's get the conversation started.