What is Ridesharing? [Full Overview]
What is Ridesharing? So, what is ridesharing? Ridesharing, by definition, is any means of transportation in which multiple people use the same car, truck, van, or vehicle to arrive at a similar destination. Ridesharing can include carpooling and sharing taxis, as well. Companies such as Lyft and Uber fall under the umbrella of ridesharing. More specifically, these services are often called real-time, on-demand, or peer-to-peer ridesharing. This means that the user of the service can request transportation in real-time. Once the driver receives your information and location, they head to your destination to provide transportation. To illustrate the difference, think of your local taxi company. The drivers of this service are required to carry a commercial license to transport passengers. Uber, on the other hand, does not require it’s drivers to carry anything other than a standard vehicle operators license making them a peer-to-peer or on-demand ridesharing service. Pretty cool huh? The Rideshare Platform Now that you know what ridesharing is, let’s talk about how the platform works on mobile devices. This is the Lyft ridesharing app on iOS for Lyft Line. Modern day ridesharing is rather simple. People use an app to drop a pin onto their current location. The registered drivers in the area then get a notification that someone is requesting a ride. Through the app, they accept the ride and use an integrated GPS service to drive to where the customer has dropped the pin. Once the driver arrives, the customer is taken to their desired destination and dropped off. The transaction is carried out entirely through the app and there is no processing of money outside the riders mobile phone making it safer for the consumer. So, ridesharing solves a couple of the major issues that you find with taxis and public transportation. Bus stops and terminals can be an epicenter for crime, because this service is cheap and relies on cash transactions. Taxis, while typically safer than public transit, can also be problematic for making payments. Generally speaking, ridesharing costs fall between the costs of public transportation and taxicabs. So why would people use ridesharing when they can save money and just take public transportation? Besides the safety factor, public transportation relies on set schedules and services only some areas provide, whereas ridesharing is available when the passenger wants it and it can go wherever is desired. Fun Fact: Uber processes over 2 million rides per day across the United States and leads all ridesharing companies with a staggering 6.3b net worth. Reasons to Rideshare Ridesharing has many uses in modern society including reducing emissions and lowering your carbon footprint. Here are some great ways and reasons to rideshare: Concerts & Events – Ridesharing to and from concerts and events helps eliminate the need to find parking spaces when you arrive. Drinking & Driving – Drinking and driving accounts for over 10,000 deaths per year. When you use a ridesharing service after enjoying your time out on the town, you eliminate the risk of getting a DUI or hurting someone. Car Expenses – Depending on how far you rideshare daily, it may actually be much cheaper to forgo owning any type of car or vehicle. With a car payment and insurance obligation, you may be looking at $300 – $700 per month!
