Uber starts carpooling for cheaper travel in city

Uber, the smartphone app that is transforming the way the world travels today, has announced the launch of its innovative product uberPOOL in three Indian cities - Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai. This is carpooling by which more people travel in fewer cars, giving cheaper rides for passengers. Since the launch of uberPOOL in Delhi and Bengaluru over six months ago, 25% of all travel in the two cities was now on their company cars, Uber India president Amit Jain has said. Amit Jain said, “We are excited to bring carpooling at the push of a button to three more cities in India. Uber is committed to bringing innovative urban mobility options that will help reduce congestion and pollution in our cities over time. Getting more people in fewer cars results in riders having to pay less and also drivers spending less idle time between rides.” He said over 300,000 litres of fuel was thus saved. In Delhi and Bengaluru, over 50,000 riders were opting to share their trip via uberPOOL each week. Cheaper rides for passengers UberPOOL is more affordable because the cost of the trip is shared. The fare per trip is set at up to 50% lesser than uberGO, which is typically our cheapest service--whether Uber pairs you up with another passenger or not. uberPOOL is a convenient way for people going in the same direction at the same time to share the journey. This helps cut congestion and pollution. And because uberPOOL is cheap and easy to use, over time it offers a credible alternative to car ownership. How it works Choose the uberPOOL option in the app. Enter your destination and request a ride. You’ll see your driver’s details straight away--name, photo and the details of the car. As with UberGO, these drivers have undergone police verification and an extensive screening process. uberPOOL will then match you with another passenger heading in the same direction. Passenger will either be in the car at the start of your trip, in which case you’ll see their name in advance; or your driver will pick them up along the way, in which case Uber will notify you via the app. Whether you’re first or second into the car, Uber ensures that you’re never taken more than a few minutes out of your way. At the end of your trip, you’ll pay just like a normal Uber trip and receive an electronic receipt.