
Taking an Uber to work? Your next ride might be cheaper
CNN
Uber on Wednesday announced new features aimed at budget-conscious commuters, including Route Share and a price-lock pass.
Uber is launching a new service called Route Share, a carpool-like option aimed at budget-conscious commuters. Route Share will function somewhat like a commuter shuttle: “consistent and frequent pickup options along direct routes,” running every 20 minutes during the peak commute hours of 6 to 10 a.m. and 4 to 8 p.m. on weekdays. Commuters will walk a “short distance” to designated pickup and drop-off points, and they may share rides with up to two additional passengers, Uber said in its announcement Wednesday. The service will launch in seven major cities, including New York City, San Francisco and Chicago, before expanding nationwide. Uber says Route Share will save commuters up to 50% compared to the private-ride UberX service — notably higher than the existing UberPool pooled rides option, which is an average 20% savings, the company’s website says. The company is also rolling out two new ride passes aimed at reducing costs for riders. The Price Lock Pass, launching Wednesday in select cities for $2.99 a month, lets users lock in a price in advance for up to 10 routes. And a Prepaid Pass launching this summer will offer discounts on bundles of five, ten, 15 or 20 rides paid in advance. The announcements come one week after Uber’s quarterly earnings call, on which Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said the company is focused on serving price-sensitive riders — while also boosting usage during peak commute hours.













