Uber Technologies Inc as an American mobility service provider is continuously improving its operations, ensuring it gives users all over the countries it operates the best transit experience. Their recent introduction; the Uber Transit is one you may have wondered about. Is it similar to the Uber Vehicle option? How does it work? Is it a public or private transit option? All these will be discussed herein.
The Uber Transit is a transit system feature you find in the Uber mobile app. This transit option allows users to track and get current details of public transportation available to them. Details like bus schedules, timing, fares and other details that are needed to plan their trip with ease.
How Does The Uber Transit Work?
As mentioned above, the Uber Transit system can be found in the regular Uber mobile app that is used to locate drivers that are close by. So how can you access the needed information? Follow the steps below:
- Open the Uber mobile app.
- Put in your destination like you would do when you want to order a regular Uber ride.
- When the results of your destination input load, swipe up to see more transportation options than the usual UberX and XL.
- When you swipe, you will see some public transportation options mentioned. However, this will only be seen if the service is available to the destination route you initially put in.
- If your city has integrated the ability to purchase subway tickets or bus passes, then you can get yours from the Uber app but if they have not, then you have to do it the traditional way. However, you can still access current information on the departure and arrival of buses, subways or trains.
The Perks of the Uber Transit System
- It encourages the use of public transportation instead of having personal Uber Vehicle rides, thereby increasing revenue for the city or state.
- It gives assurance of safety to individuals who do not feel comfortable taking personal rides in private transits like Uber Vehicle.
- It is more economical, especially because not everyone can afford taxis or the cost of personal rides.
- It gives you other options in cases where the taxis or Uber vehicles are experiencing high demand, leading to a hike in the cost of a ride and making the taxi or Uber Vehicles in short supply.
- Uber Transit gives users, especially city tourists or visitors the added advantage of understanding and getting familiar quickly with public transit schedules, routes, fares and real-time information on arrivals and departures, this makes the use of public transportation much easier.
- The use of Uber Transit helps individuals save money on private trips. This could be an avenue to save up to buy a personal car.
- The public transits of some cities are available 24/7. If a car owner is caught in a situation where they cannot drive themselves home or use the Uber Vehicle option, public transit will always be available.
Conclusion
Uber operates in over 85 countries, however, the Uber Transit is a feature that is just catching on. This means that it is not yet available in all countries where Uber operates. However, you can use the Uber app to discover if this feature is available in your city. When you put in your destination as discussed above in “how it works”, if you cannot see information on public transportation in your city, then it is not available there.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is Uber public or private transportation?
The traditional Uber Vehicle option can be seen as private because it uses a private driver and allows for a smaller group or just an individual for a trip. However, Uber Transit uses public buses and trains and allows for multiple passengers on a trip, therefore it is a public transportation system.
2. Do I need to pay a fee to access the real-time information of public transits on the Uber app?
You do not have to pay any fee to access the information on public transits on the Uber App. This also means that Uber Transit has no additional cost. It is an inbuilt feature of your Uber mobile app, all you need to do is input your destination, scroll up and get more information on public transportation.
The only fee you might need to pay is the fee to purchase a ticket or pass for your required trip if the feature has been integrated into your city.
3. Is Uber Transit legal?
Seeing how Uber has partnered with governments in countries to make public transportation appealing and accessible to its citizens and residents, it is certain that this transit system can be trusted. So, yes, it is legal.
