Uber and Lyft are both rolling out new ways to beat city congestion
Ride-hailing firms have been accused of increasing congestion (among other things). Now Uber and Lyft are trying to combat this by showing traffic information in-app, and offering alternatives to car journeys.
The news: Lyft launched e-scooters and e-bikes in Santa Monica this week. Users there will soon get an update that will not only help locate the new transport options—but will offer up information on public transport routes too.
Uber is acknowledging that driving isn’t always the best option too. TechCrunch reports that the firm has started rolling out an update that shows riders color-coded traffic estimates, something drivers have had for a while. If you see a red map, walking or getting the subway might be quicker than waiting for an UberX. The data is pulled from Uber’s own historic data rather than Google, which currently powers Uber’s maps.
Why now? Both companies have been expanding their offerings beyond taxis for some time and face growing criticism that they are increasing traffic in cities. There may be ulterior motives. Uber’s update could encourage riders to patiently wait for one of its taxis rather than seek alternatives, for example. It’s hard to be confident these steps will decrease congestion, but it is at least some sort of acknowledgement from ride-hailers that they might just be part of the problem.
Keep Reading
Most Popular
DeepMind’s cofounder: Generative AI is just a phase. What’s next is interactive AI.
“This is a profound moment in the history of technology,” says Mustafa Suleyman.
What to know about this autumn’s covid vaccines
New variants will pose a challenge, but early signs suggest the shots will still boost antibody responses.
Human-plus-AI solutions mitigate security threats
With the right human oversight, emerging technologies like artificial intelligence can help keep business and customer data secure
Next slide, please: A brief history of the corporate presentation
From million-dollar slide shows to Steve Jobs’s introduction of the iPhone, a bit of show business never hurt plain old business.
Stay connected
Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.