The days of hailing a taxi down amidst the pouring rain are finally over, as are the days of pre-booking a taxi four hours prior to needing it.
What is ridesharing?
The landscape of private transportation is dramatically changing due to advances in technology and automation on a global scale. Ridesharing services allow users to arrange one-way transportation through their smartphones, credit card or PayPal accounts. Ridesharing arranges car travel on very short notice, so pre-booking is a thing of the past. All you have to do is type in your current location followed by your desired destination, and voila. You have yourself mode of efficient transportation instantly.
Ridesharing has proven hugely popular among people in both the UK and US. In a 2019 report by Statista, 25% of people in the US were reported to use ridesharing services on a monthly basis – a whopping quarter of the population. The ridesharing market has continued to expand since its inception, with new companies launching every day around the world. With GPS and social networking technologies that are able to match a passenger with a particular driver through an algorithm, the ridesharing experience is driven by bespoke technology.
Of course, ridesharing is not quite the same as carpooling, where the passenger only pays for half of the cost of the journey because all parties are headed to the same destination. Although it was like this when ridesharing first entered the transportation scene, it is now an arrangement between a vehicle owner and a person who enters a pickup location and immediately pays a fee before using the service.
It’s really that simple.
Carpooling
Ridesharing doesn’t have to be a journey with one party and one driver. In recent years, large companies such as Uber and Lyft have introduced carpooling. This service is meant for people hoping to save money on their journey (and people in search of a more eco-friendly way to travel). This is achieved by several different people using the service because they want to get to the same destination. People who are located along the way of the journey can also enter the vehicle by using the app.
Carpooling is not only cheaper and more environmentally friendly, but it is also a unique way to meet new people headed to similar places. The friendships to be made during a carpool journey are not to be underestimated.
Benefits of ridesharing
What are the main benefits of ridesharing? There are many. These include:
Reduced toxic pollutants and chemicals
Ridesharing is vital to helping the planet because it provides a solution to the damage caused by multiple automobiles being on the road. Cars produce toxic pollutants and chemicals that result in environmental degradation.
Of course, we are a long way away from eliminating cars from the road altogether. However, ridesharing significantly decreases the number of cars on the road, minimising damage and congestion caused by vehicle overcrowding. Ridesharing also decreases the likelihood that a person will buy a car. Car owners contribute to environmental deterioration more than those who don’t own cars for obvious reasons.
In a study conducted by The Transportation Sustainability Research Center, it was estimated that ridesharing helps reduce car emissions between 34% and 41% per year for each household using shared mobility services. The same study states:
Shared mobility has had a transformative impact on many global cities by enhancing transportation accessibility while simultaneously reducing ownership of personal automobiles.
Shared automobility is the way forward for protecting the environment.
Shared mobility saves money
Ridesharing is cheap! Uber massively sheds light on this simple fact. Ridesharing saves a lot of money for the user. Traditional taxi services are up to 50% more expensive every time. What you save in money, you also save in time with ridesharing. You don’t have to pre-book your transportation, and it is guaranteed to arrive within minutes. For those who cannot afford to buy a car, ridesharing offers affordable alternative transportation. When referencing the benefits of ridesharing, INC publication states:
Ridesharing has exploded in popularity in recent years. In 2014, 1.1 million rides were being requested every week. Ridesharing doesn’t just provide a way for people to get from point A to point B. It’s changing the world for the better.
This statement reinforces just how successful ridesharing is as a transportation option.
Ridesharing encourages communication
In a world dominated by technology that often disconnects members of the public from one another, ridesharing services are a refreshingly intimate way to meet new people in like-minded situations. If you’re carpooling, you will have the opportunity to meet people who are sharing the journey with you. This helps break barriers between people and creates an enjoyable atmosphere.
Ridesharing reduces congestion
In the same way that it reduces environmental degradation, ridesharing reduced congestion on the roads. There’s nothing worse than waiting for hours in a traffic jam and being late for work as a result. With ridesharing, fewer cars will be on the road and traffic will dramatically improve. You can expect fewer traffic jams and better road systems as a result.
With these benefits in mind, it’s time to get on board and make the most of the popular service. If you don’t utilize ridesharing at this stage in your life – the time is now.
