Skip to main content

Coronavirus: Uber suspends North America shared rides

Uber is suspending shared rides on its platform in the US and Canada in a bid to reduce the spread of coronavirus.
By Ben Spencer March 18, 2020 Read time: 1 min
Uber suspends shared rides in wake of coronavirus (Source: © Ognian Setchanov | Dreamstime.com)

A report from Reuters says the ride-hailing giant has disabled a pooled option which allows users to book trips at lower prices by sharing the car with up to three other riders heading in the same direction.

Andrew Macdonald, senior vice president of Uber Rides, says: “Our goal is to help flatten the curve on community spread in the cities we serve.”
 
Riders will now also see a message prompting them to consider whether the trip they intend to book is essential and to only travel when necessary. They are also being asked to wash their hands before and after each trip and to roll down the window to improve ventilation.
 
Uber is not alone in taking measures against coronavirus. Earlier this month, Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) issued guidance to safeguard taxi and private hire car drivers and their passengers.

 

 
 

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • The downside of driverless vehicles
    October 27, 2016
    Driverless cars will have a detrimental effect on congestion and security while the road safety benefits can be achieved sooner and cheaper using ADAS, argues Colin Sowman. Many Governments are consulting about the introduction of driverless vehicles and even running trials. As 70% or 80% of crashes are caused by human error, the promise of a crash-free future of driverless, self-driving or autonomous vehicles (call them what you will) is alluring, as are the claims of reduced congestion and lower emissions
  • Hurdles to MaaS adoption highlighted
    January 25, 2018
    Jack Opiola talks to some MaaS advocates in the US. Cities will accommodate almost 60% of the world’s population by 2025 and technology is outpacing transportation plans and planners - putting extreme pressures upon planners and transportation systems alike. Big data, digital payments, ubiquitous communications, smartphone applications, on-demand travel and autonomous vehicles are all shredding existing transport plans. Never before has the pace of population growth and the tools to address this problem
  • FCC adopts C-V2X spectrum rules
    November 25, 2024
    ITS industry can move beyond temporary waivers to deploy C-V2X devices
  • Here strengthens navigation with What3words
    November 4, 2020
    OEMs can integrate addressing service to customers via Here Search API