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

  • Parliamentary group wants Mayors to have the power to curb private hire vehicles
    July 14, 2017
    In its report published this week, the UK Parliament’s All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Taxis calls on the Government to give the Mayor of London, and other Mayors, the power to cap the number of private hire vehicles (PHVs) on London’s streets, stop cross border hiring and set out a robust set of minimum licensing standards for taxis and PHVs across the country.
  • Bhatt nomination has ITS approval
    July 25, 2022
    ITS America, IBTTA, ITE & GHSA welcome Joe Biden's FHWA nomination of Shailen Bhatt
  • The path to safer roads: America can learn from Europe’s example, says Verra Mobility
    May 1, 2024
    Many US states are establishing road safety programmes that will inspire others. TJ Tiedje, vice president commercial at Verra Mobility, explains why this is important
  • MaaS transit does Dallas
    October 22, 2018
    What started five years ago as a mobile ticketing app is evolving towards a full MaaS offering for the US city of Dallas, Texas. Colin Sowman finds out why and how. When it was launched in September 2013, GoPass was the first multimodal, multi-agency transit fare payment app in the US. Introduced by the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (Dart), GoPass combines a mobile ticketing app with a trip planning function and it is also accepted by Trinity Railway Express, Trinity Metro and the Denton County Transportation