Ride-sharing Apps That Have Hit The Mainstream
Ridesharing firms are rapidly replacing taxis as the preferred mode of transportation, particularly in densely populated cities. In 2017, Uber was reportedly a standard mode of transportation in NYC than Texas, with two eighty lac rides per day vs. two seventy rides per day. Additionally, ridesharing frequency grew by thirty-seven percent between 2016 and 2017. The ridesharing apps have maintained steady growth since then. Uber is one of the best ridesharing apps ever to exist.
So, why are ridesharing services gaining popularity? Are they indeed a superior alternative to traditional cab rides?
- The Benefits of Ridesharing
The following are the four primary pros of ridesharing:
- Ridesharing benefits individuals with mobility issues.
- Its procedures are less discriminatory.
- It is convenient, economical, and secure.
- It has led to millions of employment opportunities.
Consider these advantages in complete depth.
Ridesharing apps enable individuals with impairments, elders, and low-class households to travel more freely. Uber ASSIST provides door-to-door help to the millions of disabled and senior citizens in the US. Additionally, both Uber and Lyft partner directly with senior centers, retirement homes, and healthcare groups to arrange transportation for seniors and those with disabilities who may have difficulty navigating technology. They place specially qualified drivers to assist seniors and individuals with disabilities, ensuring the greatest possible experience.
Lyft gives reduced rides to grocery stores for low-income households to guarantee access to fresh foods and healthy meal options. They even vowed to provide transportation for veterans and lower-class family members to job interviews and medical visits at one point. There is less discrimination with ridesharing apps than there is with cab services. According to a study, black riders who hail or arrange for taxi services face discrimination. When it comes to black riders, taxis are far more likely to cancel or make their passengers wait up to fifteen minutes longer than when it comes to white passengers. According to a senior at the University of Oregon, “virtually eradicate racial-ethnic disparities in service quality.” Ridesharing apps make transportation more convenient, quick, safe, and inexpensive.
Taxi rides can cost between twenty percent and thirty percent more than ridesharing applications and have historically been less reliable. Additionally, rideshare apps have safety features that allow riders to view their driver’s license plate, vehicle model, and photo to ensure they are getting into the right vehicle for their journey. Rideshare apps let users share routes with family and friends, submit driver reviews, and conduct cashless transactions. Ridesharing applications take intoxicated drivers off the road. A third of ridesharing passengers stated that the primary reason they rideshare is to avoid getting drunk. Additionally, research indicates that ridesharing might save an estimated five hundred lives and one billion dollars in public money each year by reducing DUI-related accidents.
Ridesharing apps have facilitated the creation of millions of employees in the US. While most Uber and Lyft drivers utilize their earnings as extra income, full-time drivers are becoming increasingly prevalent in major cities with increased demand for services. Drivers appreciate the job’s flexibility and the ability to choose their hours, as well as the extra benefit of getting to know their towns and seeing more than they would otherwise.
- Ridesharing Disadvantages
As with anything, ridesharing has several downsides, including but not limited to the following:
- Increased emissions, congestion, and a decline in public transit use
Drivers frequently earn less than the minimum wage, making paying for petrol and vehicle repairs challenging.
While rideshare applications have a history of conducting scant background checks on drivers, taxi drivers face more rigorous security assessments that include fingerprinting for the FBI database. The third issue outlined above makes us doubt rideshare applications are as safe as they claim. Let us begin by delving into that.
- Ridesharing’s Risks
Taxi drivers have existed for more than a century and, as such, are subject to specific standards and laws (granted, this is different from city to city). They must all adhere to the same standards of hygiene, driving records, and cab cleanliness. Additionally, they are all professionally trained to perform their duties.
Ridesharing apps have a fair share of advantages and risks. Still, if passengers were to use rideshare applications, they must be acutely aware of these risks and take precautions where possible.
