3 ms·

/r/denver discussion: https://old.reddit.com/r/Denver/comments/alsm56/uber_transit_just_went_live_in_denver/ https://old.reddit.com/r/Denver/comments/alsm56/ub

/r/denver discussion: https://old.reddit.com/r/Denver/comments/alsm56/uber_transit_just_went_live_in_denver/ https://old.reddit.com/r/Denver/comments/alsm56/uber_transit... RTD already has their own app for buying tickets. Transit app (or google maps) work well for planning trips. You can’t even actually buy a ticket yet on the Uber app. > Uber is aiming to increase efficiency, enhance the experience and increase equity and accessibility What does that mean?

foota 8y ago
They're trying to integrate Uber with transit. Catch a ride to a bus stop and bus the rest of the way. Edit: It doesn't look like that's their offering now, but I think they'll move towards it.
- max76 8y ago
  That's only one interpretation of what they said. Their statement was specifically vague to allow people to fill in the blanks themselves.
filoleg 8y ago
>What does that mean? It is so vague, it means absolutely anything you want to imagine, and nothing specific. I would be surprised if a variation of that specific line you quoted didn’t end up in the next season of HBO’s Silicon Valley
- woolvalley 8y ago
  efficiency: Minimum time, distance & money enhance the experience: less stressful / research required / more convenient increase equity and accessibility: make it cheaper so more people can afford it
kokokokoko 8y ago
> equity and accessibility People with disabilities(especially electric wheelchairs). Uber currently has a service in some markets: https://www.uber.com/ride/uberwav/ https://www.uber.com/ride/uberwav/ Many people with disabilities depend on municipal "paratransit". For example this is for Denver http://www.rtd-denver.com/accessARide.shtml http://www.rtd-denver.com/accessARide.shtml If you visit the page you can see the experience is less than awesome. You typically need to book your trip a day or more in advance . Considering how expensive paratransit can be for a municipality, I imagine they could see using Uber, even if only for dispatch) as a potential big win in both overall user experience and cost savings. > increase efficiency Many muncipalities prefer to do as much in the private sector as possible. Handing ticketing and payment over to 3rd party providers has the potential for cost saving if Uber and other services can do it for less money. Edit: I should add that I'm not writing this as something I think will end up being true as much as I'm clarifying the corporate speak that Uber is sending out for other decision makers in other municipalities.
eeeeeeeeeeeee 8y ago
I'm a Denver resident and use the train anytime I go to the airport (union station -> DIA). It's probably the easiest fair they do, flat rate. The RTD app is ATROCIOUS -- my first attempt I was double billed. Also, it's functionally worse than a paper ticket because you have to constantly take your phone out of your pocket and open up the RTD app to show the guard. With a paper ticket, you can simply leave the ticket on your seat. I don't even bother anymore, I simply use the physical kiosks at the station. I've never had to wait for a machine, even during the holidays. I'm sure RTD knows they cannot compete with Uber or any other large company on app quality. So if RTD cannot even handle a simple one-way fair, it's no wonder they're trying to partner with Uber to handle complex fairs that combine walking, buses, trams, and trains. Also, as others have said, Google Maps does some of this integration already, but it sounds like Uber might be taking over the ticket purchasing part as well? Which does sound nice.
- Symbiote 8y ago
  > you have to constantly take your phone out of your pocket and open up the RTD app to show the guard How often are you checked!? I've only used a couple of trains in the USA, but in Europe it would be very unusual to be checked more than once on any journey. Twice can happen on long journeys if the guard changes. Usually there's either no check, or only a check by machine like a ticket gate.

foota 8y ago

They're trying to integrate Uber with transit. Catch a ride to a bus stop and bus the rest of the way. Edit: It doesn't look like that's their offering now, but I think they'll move towards it.

max76 8y ago
That's only one interpretation of what they said. Their statement was specifically vague to allow people to fill in the blanks themselves.

filoleg 8y ago

>What does that mean? It is so vague, it means absolutely anything you want to imagine, and nothing specific. I would be surprised if a variation of that specific line you quoted didn’t end up in the next season of HBO’s Silicon Valley

woolvalley 8y ago
efficiency: Minimum time, distance & money enhance the experience: less stressful / research required / more convenient increase equity and accessibility: make it cheaper so more people can afford it

kokokokoko 8y ago

> equity and accessibility People with disabilities(especially electric wheelchairs). Uber currently has a service in some markets: https://www.uber.com/ride/uberwav/ https://www.uber.com/ride/uberwav/ Many people with disabilities depend on municipal "paratransit". For example this is for Denver http://www.rtd-denver.com/accessARide.shtml http://www.rtd-denver.com/accessARide.shtml If you visit the page you can see the experience is less than awesome. You typically need to book your trip a day or more in advance . Considering how expensive paratransit can be for a municipality, I imagine they could see using Uber, even if only for dispatch) as a potential big win in both overall user experience and cost savings. > increase efficiency Many muncipalities prefer to do as much in the private sector as possible. Handing ticketing and payment over to 3rd party providers has the potential for cost saving if Uber and other services can do it for less money. Edit: I should add that I'm not writing this as something I think will end up being true as much as I'm clarifying the corporate speak that Uber is sending out for other decision makers in other municipalities.

eeeeeeeeeeeee 8y ago

I'm a Denver resident and use the train anytime I go to the airport (union station -> DIA). It's probably the easiest fair they do, flat rate. The RTD app is ATROCIOUS -- my first attempt I was double billed. Also, it's functionally worse than a paper ticket because you have to constantly take your phone out of your pocket and open up the RTD app to show the guard. With a paper ticket, you can simply leave the ticket on your seat. I don't even bother anymore, I simply use the physical kiosks at the station. I've never had to wait for a machine, even during the holidays. I'm sure RTD knows they cannot compete with Uber or any other large company on app quality. So if RTD cannot even handle a simple one-way fair, it's no wonder they're trying to partner with Uber to handle complex fairs that combine walking, buses, trams, and trains. Also, as others have said, Google Maps does some of this integration already, but it sounds like Uber might be taking over the ticket purchasing part as well? Which does sound nice.

Symbiote 8y ago
> you have to constantly take your phone out of your pocket and open up the RTD app to show the guard How often are you checked!? I've only used a couple of trains in the USA, but in Europe it would be very unusual to be checked more than once on any journey. Twice can happen on long journeys if the guard changes. Usually there's either no check, or only a check by machine like a ticket gate.