Google I/O isn’t the one tech-adjacent occasion this week. Uber simply held its annual GO-GET occasion and introduced an entire bunch of recent options coming to the rideshare platform/taxi app/no matter you wanna name it. A lot of this information considerations shuttles and expanded trip 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 upfront for transportation to and from main occasions like concert events and basketball video games, although it is also obtainable for journeys to the airport. The corporate brags that this function is especially budget-friendly, noting that every rider pays “a fraction of the value 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 type of a bummer.
Uber has partnered with Dwell Nation to deliver these shuttles to sure venues all through the summer season, together with Miami’s Arduous Rock Stadium and Charlotte’s PNC Pavilion. These Uber Shuttles gained’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 can 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 one thing 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 alternative for Uber Pool that launched in 2023, is getting a brand new function that lets customers schedule shared rides upfront to save lots of a bit of cash. The corporate notes that a mean rider ought to save round 25 % per trip utilizing this device 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 not too long ago. Uber additionally says its “deliberately launching this new providing in cities which have skilled among the highest charges of staff returning to workplace.” This contains 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 folks guide rides for family members to medical doctors appointments and the like. Ultimately, you may additionally be capable to use it to get issues like groceries or over-the-counter treatment delivered as effectively. When you’re caring for somebody, they’ll add you of their Uber app as a delegated Caregiver, which then offers you the choice to do issues like reserving a trip. Uber says you may additionally be capable to 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 companies middle, for instance, these issues could be utilized within the app to save lots of you out-of-pocket money. Caregiver will roll out this summer season, beginning with trip reserving choices.
Meals supply platform Uber Eats is getting a few updates. The corporate has added Costco to its lineup of retail supply choices. Costco members won’t solely get stuff delivered, however ought to get a further low cost on high of membership privileges. Lastly, Uber Eats Lists is a brand new manner for folks to determine on what to nosh on. This enables customers to peruse restaurant suggestions from pals 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 stay in Minneapolis. Uber’s pulling up stakes after the town council voted to extend driver pay. It could fairly depart a bustling metropolis than abide by a slight pay improve. In spite of everything, the thought of truthful pay may unfold and infect the harmless minds of Uber drivers all over the place. Lengthy stay the completely wholesome and regular gig economic system.
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.
