Uber, a popular ridesharing program, is finally making the return to Tuscaloosa and Auburn. Drivers will be returning to the roads of both schools just in time for fall semester to begin. Uber previously operated in Tuscaloosa, but stopped in 2014 due to regulations set by the city. In the past months, Uber and the City of Tuscaloosa have been negotiating the return of Uber to the city. The main concern for approval was the uneven playing field for other cab drivers. But on June 21, the council came to a simple majority decision allowing for Uber to return to Tuscaloosa.
Uber was excited to bring back their ridesharing program to Tuscaloosa and Auburn. The company stated on their website that, “bringing Uber to these two college towns has been a priority for us, and we’re excited to be able to supply students with affordable, safe rides.”
This past Thursday, August 18, Uber made the big return to UA’s campus. With school and football season starting, the return could not of come at a better time. During these crazy months, students need a reliable and safe ride from place to place. The Uber app makes it simple to book a ride to any destination by linking to the user’s credit card. Often wait times for rides are between five or ten minutes, much less than other options in Tuscaloosa.
Before Uber, Tuscaloosa or UA did not provide students with many options for reliable rides. The University offered a service called 348-RIDE but vans were often not in service or would simply not show up to pick up students. This lead students to not even consider this service as an option. There are a few taxi services in Tuscaloosa, but many are overpriced and are not catered for student use. Taxis also require cash to tip and most students do not carry cash on them.
Having Uber back on campus will provide students with a safe transportation option, whenever they need it. In 2014, there were 5,398 car crashes related to drunk driving in Alabama. Uber aims at discouraging driving under the influence by making it simple to book a ride home after a night out. With a click of a button students are able to safely get home without ever having to get behind the wheel.[via: Crimson White, Alabama, and MADD]
