Rideshare: The Evolution of Car Pooling

Car Pooling in 2015

Benefits

There are a number of benefits – especially in today’s constantly on-the-move society – to carpools.

Today, carpools come in many forms.

From traditional taxi cabs to more technologically sound ridesharing companies and many options in between, today’s consumer has a multitude of options.

Statistics show that around 80% of all seats on the road are empty!

Carpools – in whichever form – alleviate that issue by pairing people and ensuring less cars on the road overall.

This can provide amazing benefits including reducing traffic congestion, reduction of smog from automobiles, and lessening the amount of gasoline used by millions of drivers on the road.

Innovation

There are companies in today’s technologically-savvy landscape that are changing the way we consumers look at traditional carpools.

We will provide further detail regarding specific ridesharing companies and their services in the sections below.

From private rides to carpools and everything in between being offered to regular, everyday people, the ride share era is in full swing.

Share a Ride

If you’re looking for the most eco-friendly and sustainable way to get around these days, both Uber and Lyft have ride pool options when requesting a ride.

Say what?!

Yep.  Uber calls it Uber Pool, while Lyft’s service goes by the name Lyft Line.

The idea of both services is that you can share a ride with another passenger – or maybe even more than one! – headed in the same general direction and share the cost.

Drivers get paid the same amount without added mileage, and passengers get a cut on their bill:  it’s a win-win.

Rideshare: Share a Ride

The ride share craze – at least, its current form – all started with the launch of Uber in 2009.

Uber’s success and potential was pretty evident right off the bat, and their international expansion began in 2011 with Paris.

Then there were 2…

The summer of 2012 brought about Uber’s main competitor in Lyft.

Coming from a background in the carpool business (with more of a focus on longer distances), Lyft expanded exponentially just as Uber had when it launched.

There are now other ridesharing companies out there as well, although most of them are focused on a specific service, such as Wingz is specific to airport rides.

Find a Ride

Finding a ride using either Lyft or Uber is incredibly easy, even for those not as technologically capable as others.

If you have a smartphone, all you need to do to get started is download the app.

Good news!

Your first ride from Lyft, Uber, and Sidecar can be free!  Just use an appropriate promo code to cash in the savings.

After entering a promo code, enter your payment information, and you’re good to go!

As a Driver

As a driver in the ride sharing industry, there are different ways you can make a living.

Whether you want to put the pedal to the metal and drive full-time or just pick up a few rides here and there for supplemental income, both Lyft and Uber have excellent opportunities.

Check out our guide on everything about driving for Lyft!

Lyft now has a program for drivers called Driver Destination, which could change the landscape of carpooling as we know it.

How does it work?

Basically, when a driver is already on their way somewhere, he or she can indicate this via the smartphone app, and can pick up a passenger on their way to their destination.

The driver will earn a little extra cash, and the passenger gets a low rate.

Everyone wins!

Best Rideshare App

Taxi App Or Carpool App

These various ridesharing services are most often these days utilized via smartphone app.

This method has been found to be much more successful than the traditional method of calling a cab and waiting without knowing when your ride would show up.

Tell me more!

These ridesharing apps are truly on-demand, with most pickup times currently around 5 minutes or so.

Feel Safer

You can feel safer when requesting a ride through a ride share app than when traditionally calling a cab.

You can see a photo of the person you’ll be riding with, as well as a photo of their car and license plate number.

You are able to share this information with others, look at reviews of the driver, and even cancel within 5 minutes if you change your mind without being charged.

Many Ride Sharing Apps

As far as ridesharing apps are concerned, there are a few these days.

The largest, most tested, and most user-friendly options are Lyft, Uber, and Sidecar.

Where can I find them?

The relatively new Sidecar now operates in 10 cities; Lyft currently operates in nearly 60 cities nationwide, and Uber offers rides in 200 cities spanning 55 countries.

Top Rideshare USA Cities

Rideshare Los Angeles

Rideshare services are picking up and growing quickly in Los Angeles.

It makes sense for both residents of the city as well as tourists:  it’s big, and it’s crowded.

The city is notorious for poor public transit, and with the different neighborhoods so spread out, finding adequate transportation can sometimes be difficult.

Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar are all currently operating in Los Angeles, with growth reportedly still increasing.

Rideshare Chicago

Ride sharing in Chicago is seeing some of the most prominent growth around the country.

The regional headquarters expects to quadruple its reach by just 2016, creating a lot of jobs in the process.

For a city so reliant on taxis in the past due to traffic, congestion, and poor parking options, people are thrilled to have something new and hassle-free to utilize instead.

Rideshare Seattle

If you’re looking to hail a ride via rideshare in Seattle, you’re in luck.

Both Uber and Lyft are offering record-low pricing for rides throughout the city, and it looks like they’re staying.

Studies have actually shown that these decreased rates cause demand to go up, which means drivers actually end up making more money.

This theory has been tested in many cities, including Chicago and New York City.

It’s a win-win for everyone!

Rideshare San Francisco

This is really where it all began!

Uber, Lyft, Sidecar, and many other ridesharing companies all have their roots in San Francisco’s share-centric culture.

In fact, here more than anywhere else, you can find a variety of ridesharing options tailored to your specific needs.

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