Ridesharing

Westfield Mall Uber Drop-Off

Study: Uber and Lyft Trips Cost the Planet More Than Trips in Personal Vehicles

The cost of 'deadheading'–the time ride-hailing drivers spend looking for fares–offsets any environmental benefits created by the industry, despite early claims that the apps would reduce congestion and air pollution.

October 5, 2021 - Bloomberg CityLab

Poor Returns for L.A.'s Transit on Demand Pilot

Similar to microtransit on demand programs in other cities, Los Angeles' ongoing experiment is proving to be very expensive (for the public) for the benefit of very few riders.

October 11, 2019 - Streetsblog LA

Kid on Train

Life With Kids and No Car—How Is It Done?

CityLab asked readers in carless households with kids about how they get around and the challenges they face.

May 17, 2019 - CityLab

Denver Rail

Uber Partners With Transit in Denver

Uber is making it easier for travelers to access transit by offering the option to purchase tickets through its app.

May 10, 2019 - CityLab

Uber Car

When Rideshare Serves as Transit, Success Brings Risks

Innisfil, Ontario, decided to use Uber instead of starting bus service. The program took off but so have the costs, and now cutbacks need to be made.

May 6, 2019 - CityLab

L.A. Metro Jumps Into the Ridesharing Business

The Los Angeles County metropolitan Transportation Authority announced the launch of a one-year pilot program for on demand ridesharing, otherwise known as microtransit.

January 29, 2019 - San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Uber Jump bike

Uber Wants to Make Urban Mobility More Sustainable

Uber plans to support sustainable mobility by funding advocacy efforts, sharing data, and offering bike-share service.

October 7, 2018 - Curbed

Las Vegas strip

In Las Vegas, Ridesharing and Transit Complement and Compete

A look at transportation trends in Las Vegas suggests a surprising relationship between ridesharing and transit.

October 5, 2018 - The City Fix

AAA Study: Auto Ownership More Cost-Effective Than Ride-Hailing

Even after factoring in insurance, parking, depreciation, fuel, repair, maintenance and licensing, urban dwellers would pay half the costs to travel, on average, nearly 11,000 miles annually in their own new car rather than relying on ride-hailing.

August 25, 2018 - Smart Cities Dive

Transportation Network Companies

Study Finds UberPOOL Adds to City Traffic by Competing with the Subway

Past studies have shown how ride hailing services have added to congestion. A new study by Bruce Schaller suggests that even ride shares add to traffic, because they pull riders off of more efficient transit options like public transit.

July 29, 2018 - The Washington Post

Carpool Lane

How Lyft and Uber Can Fix—Not Cause—Congestion

While evidence mounts that Uber and Lyft are stealing rides from public transit, there's still a chance for ride-hailing apps to do more to help than hurt congestion. The key: using ride-hailing apps to carpool.

February 7, 2018 - Dan Sperling

Metro Map

Los Angeles to Test New 'Mobility on Demand' Partnership

The Federal Transit Administration has offered the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority a $1.35 million grant to partner with ridesharing app Via on first-last mile solutions.

November 27, 2017 - Engadget

Bridj Van

Bridj Comes to a Halt

Bridj's bet that it could, well, bridge ride-hailing and public transit didn't pay off. Lacking new investment, the company is shutting down.

May 5, 2017 - CityLab

SEPTA Station

Public Transit Must Evolve to Survive

Ride hailing apps have changed the way people travel. Though public transit may lose ridership to these services, transit should also learn from technological advancements and use those insights to improve transit service.

March 26, 2017 - Philadelphia Inquirer

Black Lives Matter

On Driving (and Hailing, and Ridesharing) While Black

Two studies bear out the idea that Black people face continued discrimination in transportation. They drive cautiously to avoid discriminatory traffic enforcement, and they're less likely to get picked up by rideshare.

February 1, 2017 - City Observatory

Lincoln Limos

Transportation Network Companies Increase Mobility for Underserved Communities

A recent op-ed posted here warned against new transportation technologies and instead encouraged cities to invest in public transit and walkable communities. However, transportation network companies claim to have increased transportation equity.

August 12, 2016 - The American Prospect

Texas State Capitol building

Op-Ed: Why Uber Wasn't Welcome in Austin

In the spirit of civic self-congratulation, Austin resident Richard Parker writes about how the transportation network company giants canceled service after losing a referendum vote. He ascribes this victory to the city's enduring contrarian streak.

May 25, 2016 - The New York Times

Uber Car

Uber's Impact on the New York Rush Hour

Researchers found a small uptick in Manhattan traffic during rush hour, as Uber gains more riders from 4 to 7 p.m. than taxis lose. Uber also holds general sway over the other boroughs when it comes to for-hire vehicles.

December 23, 2015 - FiveThirtyEight

Uber Car

Uber-Noxious

An op-ed appeals to a customer base that doesn't understand the ways in which "sharing economy" companies resemble Wal-Mart.

November 20, 2015 - Shelterforce/Rooflines

Lyft

Report: Transportation Network Companies Would Benefit St. Louis

According to a Deloitte report, St. Louis commuters could save upwards of $220 million a year, with an additional $493 million in regional road construction savings. All the city needs to do is lift restrictions on rideshare.

May 30, 2015 - St. Louis Business Journal

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