Uber To Introduce Fixed-Route Shuttles In Major US Cities (techcrunch.com)
- Reference: 0177511149
- News link: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/05/14/2048258/uber-to-introduce-fixed-route-shuttles-in-major-us-cities
- Source link: https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/14/uber-to-introduce-fixed-route-shuttles-in-major-us-cities-other-ways-to-save/
> The commuter shuttles will drive between pre-set stops every 20 minutes, according to Sachin Kansal, Uber's chief product officer. He noted that there will be dozens of routes in each launch city -- like between Williamsburg and Midtown in NYC. The routes, which are selected based on Uber's extensive data on popular travel patterns, might have one or two additional stops to pick up other passengers. To start, riders will only ever have to share the route with up to two other co-riders.
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> Riders can book a seat anywhere from seven days to 10 minutes before a scheduled pickup, and the app will provide them with turn-by-turn directions to get them from their house to the corner where they'll be picked up. Uber is relying on the same underlying technology that it uses for Uber Share, its shared rides offering where riders can get 15% to 30% off the cost of an UberX ride by pooling with others. Kansal told TechCrunch that Uber completes millions of shared trips annually and has been seeing more traction lately as riders look for more ways to save. Hence, Route Share.
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> Uber envisions a future where Route Share could qualify for pre-tax commuter benefits. However, as a spokesperson noted, the company would need to find a way to match those trips with Uber XL vehicles. That's because only six-seater vehicles would meet the eligibility requirements. A potential progression of Route Share would involve autonomous vehicles, particularly in chaotic cities like New York City, where no self-driving car companies have deigned to test.
[1] https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/14/uber-to-introduce-fixed-route-shuttles-in-major-us-cities-other-ways-to-save/
[2] https://www.uber.com/us/en/u/go-get/
So tech bros invented... (Score:3)
So tech bros invented trains and bus lines again? Good jorb.
Re: (Score:2)
I can never win. I came here to say precisely this thing. Still - objectively - privatized bus routes are better than no bus routes at all, right?
Re: (Score:2)
> I can never win. I came here to say precisely this thing. Still - objectively - privatized bus routes are better than no bus routes at all, right?
Bus routes already exist. Every major and minor city has such service.
Re: (Score:2)
Admittedly this is an AI generated answer but: "Several large cities in the United States are notable for lacking a robust public bus system. These include Arlington, Texas, which is the largest city in the US without mass public transportation. Other cities mentioned in articles include Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; Olathe, Kansas; Port St. Lucie, Florida; and Cape Coral, Florida. Additionally, Steinbach, Manitoba, a relatively large city in Canada, also lacks a bus service."
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> privatized bus routes are better than no bus routes at all, right?
Until they use this half-assed program to kill real public transit, like Musk tried to do with the hyperloop.
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> So tech bros invented trains and bus lines again? Good jorb.
But without the umpty-kajillion minor stops that make public bus commuting so miserable.
Will the drivers need an CDL for this? (Score:2)
Will the drivers need an CDL for this?
Uber Invents ... (Score:2)
... The bus!
But smaller, more expensive, and less fuel-efficient per passenger.
What a time to be alive.
Re-inventing the Jitney (Score:2)
Less efficient and more usurious than a bus.
So, like a bus but with cars (Score:2)
So, like a bus, but using cars? MIND-BENDING INNOVATION!!!!
Gee whizz- (Score:3)
-if only someone had ever thought of such a thing before, what wonders.