A news study raises questions about the public health effects of the widespread availability of a ride enabled by companies like Uber and Lyft—while it's easier to avoid drunk driving, it's also easier to drink.
An article published by The Economist reveals a new twist in the ongoing scientific inquiry into the effects ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft have had in society:
Among other things, Uber has made it far easier for party-goers to get home safely. One study published in 2017 found that after Uber’s arrival in Portland, Oregon, alcohol-related car crashes declined by 62%. But at the same time, the spread of ride-hailing apps may have tempted people to drink to excess, knowing that they won’t be at the wheel. A new study by three economists—Jacob Burgdorf and Conor Lennon of the University of Louisville, and Keith Teltser of Georgia State University—finds that the widespread availability of ride-sharing apps has indeed made it easier for the late-night crowd to binge.
The article details the city's methodology, and briefly discusses the scientific ambivalence about the public health impacts of ride-hailing companies.
FULL STORY: After Uber arrives, heavy drinking increases
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Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association