Uber is the leading transportation network company in the world. It also has one of the most popular apps today because it offers convenience to commuters in getting from one point to another.
Recently, the ridesharing and cab-hailing app has rolled out a new update for its users: the ‘Transit’ feature. This new feature does more than hail you a ride–it provides a more comprehensive list of transport choices to get to your destination, and it now includes public transport.
Initial rollout of the Uber update
If you live in Denver and you have recently updated your Uber app, you might notice a few changes. The ‘Transit’ option is now showing up along with the existing ride-hailing options available in the app.
When you tap on this option, you will see a list of bus and train routes to your intended destination. Costs of public transportation are displayed as well.
The new Uber update is currently available for users within the Mile High City only. But Uber has revealed that they will be rolling out the updates to over 600 cities throughout this year. All Uber users will then have the opportunity to explore the new feature. In the meantime, the residents of Denver can give it a go.
What’s new?
The Uber app is one of the best tools for people to navigate their way around the city with ease. With the introduction of new features, city travel now becomes more convenient and more affordable.
The Uber team has decided to incorporate public transit into the app knowing that a considerable percentage of city dwellers rely on it. In doing so, they have teamed up with transit apps and agencies from all over the world. They wanted to extend the reach of the ridesharing service to more people, particularly commuters.
The plan is for users to quickly find detailed information about train and bus routes in their area. Each transport option will provide an ETA to your destination, so you can choose the fastest, most efficient, and most affordable route. You can even get additional instructions on how to walk to your selected bus or train stations. The departure times are also available for each leg of the trip to ensure that you won’t miss a ride.
One of the most helpful improvements in the new update is that you can now book your tickets through the app. Uber is (for now) working with the Regional Transportation District in Denver to enable users to book tickets straight from the app. You can save time and energy since you won’t be stuck waiting in line to get your ticket. You will be able to arrive at the station and be on you way. Once the significant operational kinks are ironed out, Uber will roll Transit out to the other cities they have a presence in. This is expected to boost users’ convenience when it comes to the daily commute.
Users see the new feature from Uber as a response to the criticism about its negative impact on public transportation. Since the rise of Uber, there has been a decline in ridership for buses and subway trains. But that is about to change as Uber users are now given more options, particularly within the public transit systems.