Uber's CEO Wants to Take Over for Buses

Bus advocates aren't going to like the sound of this.

1 minute read

February 17, 2018, 5:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Transportation Network Companies

Filip Frącz / Flickr

"Uber’s CEO offered an amibitous [sic] vision for the company," reports Theodore Schleifer, "saying he didn’t want it to be seen as purely a car-for-hire company but one that would take any person on any transit system, 'from point A to point B, whatever the best way.'"

That might sound like the promised first-last mile connectivity solution that many hope ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft can offer to supplement bus service—not replace it. But, Khosrowshahi's next words make his intentions clear:

“I want to run the bus systems for a city,” Khosrowshahi said. “I want you to be able to take an Uber and get into the subway — if the trains are running on time, you’ve got real-time data — get in the subway, get out and have an Uber waiting for you for right now. Or know that there’s a bike right there for you that gets you where you’re going in the fastest manner.”

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