Word is out that Uber has seen a massive increase in their rides in Queens. The figures have almost doubled in the past year.
The Uber app, which facilitates the connection between riders and drivers, allows riders to search for and book a ride with just a tap on the app. The use of this app has increased noticeably in the Borough of Queens, and more so in areas like Jamaica and Bayside.
Safia Maredia, the general Manager for Uber NY has state that weekly rides in St. Albans have increased to 6370 in 2017, a very noticeable increase from the 1870 in 2016. Uber has also surpassed the yellow cab tide figures. Uber has 289,000 rides daily on average whilst taxi cab rides are at a daily average of 277,000.
Other remote areas such as Laurelton, Glendale, Bayside, South Jamaica and Springfield Garden are also reporting an increase in rides, which Safia Maredia is putting down to the fact that Uber is reliable as well as affordable. Yellow cabs have not been catering to the remote boroughs where the demand for rides is high. The Uberpool is a favourite of the riders in these areas. Uberpool works by allowing riders to share a can with other riders. Riders that were once upon a time being ignored in certain areas of Queens as taxis were unwilling to go them are fast becoming fans of Uber. Maredia also added that most riders were being ignored by these cabs due to their locality.
“Uber’s New York ride base field starts out of Manhattan whilst the yellow cabs usually start in Manhattan”, she added.
She also believes that the other reason why Uber rides have increased is because Uber also offers the “first mile, last mile” complimentary rides to public transportation. This is especially beneficial to those who are resident in areas where there is no access to reliable public transport and they can therefore use more cost effective options like Uberpool and UberX to get a ride in as little as five minutes. Uber stats have revealed that one out of every four trip is within a ¼ mile from a transit station, and therefore riders are opting to take the short Uber rides to these public transport access ways to shorten their travelling time and commute.
Maredia also added that Uber is a reliable solution for people who do not have access to a transport facility or for weekends when people want to party. She added that Uber is investing all its focus on providing reliable rides that are affordable too, a facility that Queens lacked. Now the Queens residents get a ride that they can afford in under five minutes.
Uber has also done a promotion event by the name of “neighbourhood love” whereby free rides are given to new patrons and Uber pool rides get $5. Uber has also launched a “Greenlight Hub” in Long Island City whereby drivers who want to sign up for driving can get details on how to go about it. These details include things like information on how to get a license, find suitable vehicles and eventually begin working for the largest on demand taxi firm in the world. Maredia has stated that Uber was just about beginning to make its presence felt in the remote boroughs through marketing and creating awareness.
She also went onto add that the percentage of weekly rides in Jamaica had gone up by 175%, whilst in Laurelton and Rosedale it has gone up by 150%. Glendale and Springfield Garden showed a 100% increase. This increase has been put down to the fact that Uber is making a huge effort to expand its services in the city.
The main focus has been on making Uber available and reliable in residential areas, and therefore the growth does not really come as a surprise. Continued rider feedback from these areas is being received and all efforts are being put to actively address issues. Although Uber has been operating in Queens for over 5 years, it is as a result of strong and continued focus that this noticeable improvement has been seen this year.
Writer, Jill Elliott is living in United Kingdom. Jill Elliott is part of our authors community since and has published 1st post on Youth Darpan.
