Another way to Commute
A shift in the popular Uber app will now ask riders to walk a short distance before their ride.
Uber was once just an alternative to a cab ride in NYC, but now, a new service is also similar to other mass transportation such as NYC run buses. Uber has launched Uber Express POOL. A service that links riders who are in the same area, who want to travel in a similar direction. After linking on the app, riders will now be required to walk to a meeting point location. Afterwards, riders would be dropped off at a location that would be an additional short walk from each of their final destinations.
Wait…How Does This differ from Uber POOL?
Similar to the current UberPool service, Uber Express Pool is also a shared ride service. Uber POOL, is a door-to-door carpooling service where drivers pick up riders from their individual locations as well as drop them off at their specific locations along the route. Now, with the new Express Pool, the difference will be — walking and waiting. When riders request an Uber Express POOL, they will be asked to wait a before the trip begins, then required to walk to the pick up spot. Unlike UberPool, Uber Express Pool doesn’t guarantee that you will be picked up and dropped off at the exact location that you requested.
“The goal for us is to complete more trips in a straightforward fashion without having to stop or take detours,” said Joan a long time Uber driver in NYC.
Express Pool riders would have to accept longer waits for their rides, Joan explained. Although the concept sounds similar to taking the bus, there are three things that makes this service unique. One, only three people can ride in an Uber Pool Express, compared to mass transportation with an overload of people. Secondly, you are riding in a car, driven by an Uber driver and the routes for Express Pool are not set in stone — Uber Express POOL is powered by a very dynamic algorithm, therefore, pickup and dropoff points will be altered based on the other riders you’re matched with for any given trip.
Joan pointed out this process is to help enhance the route in one simple direction for the goal being it can work for more riders.
Tara Hall, has two young kids, and relies on the consistency and affordability in her transportation throughout Manhattan.
“Anything that is an affordable way to get around the city you can count I will be looking into it.”
Hall says when she can get her kids in a car instead of walking, saves her a lot of hassle. She says bringing young kids on the subway, although financially makes sense, is very hard in a large crowd.
However, if getting a ride means more walking, Hall is skeptical about how much trouble that really saves her. “If chances are I now have to walk with my kids to random pickup locations, it doesn’t make much sense to me. I rather stick to Uber Pool and be dropped at my proper locations.”
Danielle Cardone, a student at Barnard college holds different feelings for the new addition to Uber. “I think this will be a great thing for us college students looking for cheap rides.”
Cardone who was an avid Uber Pool rider said she will be taking the switch to Pool Express. “Express sounds way better compared to the Pool model where we are driving all over the city to pick up additional passengers. One stop, there and done sounds way better to me!”
Depending on time of day for New Yorkers, According to Uber the rates for Express Pool will be up to 50% cheaper than the standard Pool. This pricing for Express Pool, puts it in a similar range of public transportation trips.
Justin Rankel, a student at Athens College, uses Uber on the weekends when he is with others. He lives a block from the subway however, on the weekends goes with Uber instead of switching trains multiple times. Rankel argued that Uber is being inconsistent in their mission. “They are confusing people because it was supposed to be a personalized service. Now, uber is diluting their own positioning…walking here and walking there, is very inconvenient,” expressed the business major.
MTA employee, Damien Guarino, voiced his concerns with riders abandoning their normal ways of getting around.
“ If people start giving up their regular ways of buses, bikes, walking and the subways, all for another vehicle, we are all going to be in trouble.”
Guarino refers to the additional cars Uber would be putting on the road, meaning increased engine noise, more emissions, taking up more space, thus creating more traffic.
Public transportation would deem to be more environmentally friendly than ride sharing, but undoubtedly, does not come along with the convenience of traveling faster, with fewer people, and closer to your exact destination. Although the inconveniences and change of Express Pool are minor, if riders are seasoned in the quick easy pick up, this will be an adjustment.
For students like Rankel who believe Uber is not staying loyal to their brand, the variations may be a deal breaker. “The problem is about if it is costing me an hour extra of time, then it is really defeating the purpose of saving money- money is time!”
The company isn’t getting rid of Pool for now, so if people are unable to walk or don’t want to walk, they are able to still get a ride that is more affordable than a regular Uber ride.
