Google I/O isn’t the one tech-adjacent event this week. Uber simply held its annual GO-GET event and introduced an entire bunch of latest options coming to the rideshare platform/taxi app/no matter you wanna name it. A lot of this information considerations shuttles and expanded journey sharing choices, particularly a brand new possibility known as Uber Shuttle.
This lets customers reserve as much as 5 seats as much as seven days prematurely for transportation to and from main occasions like live shows and basketball video games, although it is also out there for journeys to the airport. The corporate brags that this function is especially budget-friendly, noting that every rider can pay “a fraction of the worth of an UberX.” The corporate guarantees that these rides won’t be impacted by surge pricing. It’s additionally value noting that these shuttles are just for occasions listed within the app, which is sort of a bummer.
Uber has partnered with Stay Nation to deliver these shuttles to sure venues all through the summer season, together with Miami’s Exhausting Rock Stadium and Charlotte’s PNC Pavilion. These Uber Shuttles received’t be your typical Nissan Sentra or Toyota Camry. They’re precise shuttles that maintain wherever from 14 to 55 occupants. The corporate says every driver might be commercially licensed to function a big transport car.
Rideshare firms have been attempting to crack the “rebranded bus” for some time now. Uber tried something in 2015, known as Uber Hop, which was meant to group extra riders collectively who’re on an identical route. It did not final, however Uber Pool shared rides had been a factor for years till the pandemic. This time, Uber’s effort is strictly focused at occasions, attempting to fill a niche that exists in locations the place public transportation to and from venues is not terribly environment friendly because of our nation’s reliance on automobiles.
GO-GET wasn’t nearly shuttles with a contemporary coat of Silicon Valley paint. UberX Share, the corporate’s substitute for Uber Pool that launched in 2023, is getting a brand new function that lets customers schedule shared rides prematurely to avoid wasting a bit of cash. The corporate notes that a median rider ought to save round 25 % per journey utilizing this software when in comparison with a daily journey with UberX.
It says that is “excellent for commutes,” as the corporate has seen information that rides throughout conventional commuting hours have shot up just lately. Uber additionally says its “deliberately launching this new providing in cities which have skilled a few of the highest charges of staff returning to workplace.” This consists of New York Metropolis, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, San Diego and Atlanta, with extra places to be added within the close to future.
The corporate additionally introduced Uber Caregiver, which lets individuals e-book rides for family members to docs appointments and the like. Finally, you will additionally be capable of use it to get issues like groceries or over-the-counter treatment delivered as properly. If you happen to’re caring for somebody, they’ll add you of their Uber app as a chosen Caregiver, which then provides you the choice to do issues like reserving a journey. Uber says you will additionally be capable of apply insurance coverage advantages — so if the particular person you are caring for is on a program that gives a set variety of rides to a medical providers middle, for instance, these issues might be utilized within the app to avoid wasting you out-of-pocket money. Caregiver will roll out this summer season, beginning with journey reserving choices.
Meals supply platform Uber Eats is getting a few updates. The corporate has added Costco to its lineup of retail delivery offerings. Costco members won’t solely get stuff delivered, however ought to get an extra low cost on high of membership privileges. Lastly, Uber Eats Lists is a brand new method for individuals to determine on what to nosh on. This permits customers to peruse restaurant suggestions from associates and native foodies. Uber says this “makes it straightforward to discover a brand new metropolis or change up your go-tos.” The service launches in July in NYC and Chicago, with extra cities to come back.
Common Uber customers ought to look out for these options all through the summer season, although not in the event that they reside in Minneapolis. Uber’s pulling up stakes after the city council voted to increase driver pay. It could quite go away a bustling metropolis than abide by a slight pay improve. In spite of everything, the thought of truthful pay might unfold and infect the harmless minds of Uber drivers in every single place. Lengthy reside the totally healthy and normal gig economy.
Correction, Might 15 2024, 2:45PM ET: This story has been up to date to appropriate details about Uber Caregiver and to make clear that surge pricing doesn’t apply to the Uber Shuttle service. The headline has additionally been up to date.
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