Ridesharing is becoming quite popular lately. In fact, it is taking public and private transportation to entirely new levels. It is also taking passengers by surprise.
For many of us who have become accustomed to using Uber on a daily or weekly basis, it might be hard to imagine life without it. It has become convenient, common and quick.
But Uber is still a baby, or to be fair, it is only a young child. It is only 7 years old and it was not really used regularly until 2012 when it became more affordable.
If that’s the case, if Uber and other ridesharing companies have grown this much in such a short period of time, it raises the question: What’s the future of public transportation? Is public transportation becoming more private?
Within the past 5 to 10 years ridesharing has really taken off and has gained an incredible amount of momentum. And rightly so! There are many incredible benefits to using a ridesharing service.
Choose your rates! Ridesharing offers a variety of carpool companies that offer different forms of ridesharing. The most common and well-known ridesharing services and carpool companies are Uber and Lyft.
But ridesharing is becoming so popular there are many other carpool companies that are trying to innovate and get into the game as well.
In the US other competitors following close behind Uber are Lyft, Gett and Juno. In Europe, BlablaCar (originating in France) is sweeping travelers of all ages into its convenient and affordable frenzy.
In Europe many solo and young travelers are keen on taking a BlaBlaCar (available for purchase just a few hours before departure) over a train or a bus because it is cheaper, faster and you get to meet the locals, actually having a conversation and connect yourself to the culture.
Cars to Connect
There are far more perks to using BlaBlaCar and Uber than simply saving a few bucks here and there. It’s becoming a way to connect yourself with the world and the culture.
Hopping in a car to “catch a ride” is about chatting with the person behind the wheel. It’s a way to create community, friendships and share space in a significant way together.
Benefits of Ridesharing Services
- Convenient
- Affordable
- Payment is taken electronically, via your Smartphone
- Tips are (usually) not accepted
- The driver makes money
- The passengers save money
- Offers an opportunity to chat and connect with the local culture; instead of taking a bus and secluding yourself to seat 3A, you are invited to chat and navigate together
- Uses less gasoline
- Better for the environment
Ridesharing Definition
Ridesharing is a modern form of alternative transportation. Ridesharing is riding with someone in either their car or your vehicle and it can be used for any occasion.
If you don’t want to wait for the subway, it’s becoming easy and affordable to call an Uber. If you want to save money on your commute to work, rideshare.
Ridesharing can be used with any form of transportation: cars, vans, walking, cycling, public transportation. It’s carpooling, vanpooling, walking, riding your bike or public transit.
For more great information on ridesharing, some of its drawbacks, its history, ridesharing definition, and what people do and don’t like about it, check out this article from Engadget.
Drawbacks to This Type of Driving?
One of the drawbacks of ridesharing that has some people, especially cab drivers, questioning its validity and benefits is that some people are calling Lyft and Uber a businesses-for-profit and argue that it is not “peer-to-peer transportation.”
If Uber is operating the same way as a Taxi would how come Uber drivers are not having to pay the same license fees and insurance as cab drivers? For these reasons it has been banned in parts of Canada (Vancouver), the US (Virginia) and Europe (Belgium).
Dynamic Ridesharing
Dynamic ridesharing is a fairly new term. What’s with the world “dynamic” and how is that any different from ridesharing by itself?
Ridesharing seeks to organize all ride-sharing services (Uber and Lyft and BlaBlaCar and many others) into a large pot, like vegetables in simmering stew and strives to pair it with a good bread or a refreshing salad.
What do we mean by that? This is a concept that seeks to organize one-time ride matches for drivers and passengers at convenient times while catering to their specific needs, preferences and desires at the same time.
Dynamic ridesharing is meant to be used on a daily basis as a way to continually save money on gas, transportation costs and help the environment.
Carpool Meaning
Carpooling has been around for ages. The day the very first cars were invented, carpooling came with it. But it seems to be taking on an entirely new meaning in 21st century fast-paced culture.
Carpool meaning, or sharing a ride with someone in the same vehicle, is becoming a great way to care for the environment. It’s also becoming an additional source of income for people seeking supplemental income.
Carpooling services, like Uber or Lyft, allows people to choose when they want to work and how often they want to work.
Ridesharing organizations are becoming a modern-day type of freelance work that keeps everyone moving faster and more sustainably.
Types of Ridesharing Services
Ridesharing companies are innovating to cater to the needs of all ages, especially when it comes to economic or financial status. Uber is leading by example and creating different levels of ridesharing experiences.
If you want to ride in class and hop into a limo with a driver who has their commercial chauffeur license, use UberBLACK.
If you want a pure and original ridesharing experiencing that is less expensive, go with UberX. If you’re super tight on money and need to get from A to B quickly, UberPool is your answer.
Ride-sharing is a great way to travel cheaply and consciously.