Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Uber looks to please riders, drivers in NYC with $5 cap on shared rides

By Bruce Brown May 9, 2016

uber rider driver ratings — UberPool riders pay $5 max in NYC rush hour Image used with permission by copyright holder

Weekday rush-hour rates in New York City, at least below 110th Street, just got cheaper for Uber riders. There are a couple of conditions, however, according to the NY Post.

To take advantage of the $5 maximum rates, you have to hail your ride via UberPool and catch your ride at a designated pickup spot. That’s probably not a big deal for many people, as long as you don’t mind sharing your Uber car with others; it is a ride-sharing service, after all. The designated pickup spots will usually be a nearby corner, says Uber, so you won’t have far to walk. And for that matter, it might be a little safer getting in on a corner rather than in traffic lanes right in front of your building, work, or home, where the flow of cars, cabs, buses, and cyclists can get intense.

The $5 fare is the big draw because Uber surge pricing can jump pretty high during rush hour, when the demand for rides exceeds the driver supply. Rush hour, by the way, is 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday. No matter how many passengers get in the car, you pay $5 to your destination, even if you end up being the only passenger.

In case you’re wondering if Uber drivers will take a hit with only one, or even two, passengers under this plan, it’s not a problem. Drivers will be paid at surge rates when driving Uberpool passengers, even if there is only one rider.

There is one possible “gotcha” in the plan. When you book a ride via UberPool, you won’t be given an estimated destination arrival time. Once you get in the car, after which there are no refunds, that’s when you’ll learn how long your trip should take and how many other passengers, if any, the driver is going to pick up. Uber is hoping the cost benefits will bring riders, the surge rates will please drivers, and that more people will get where they’re going, via Uber, with less traffic.

iOS Google Play

Topics

Contributing Editor

Digital Trends Contributing Editor Bruce Brown is a member of the Smart Homes and Commerce teams. Bruce uses smart devices…

Cars

Best electric car charger deals: $100 off home charging stations

The handle of the Grizzl-E EV charger plugged into a vehicle.

A few years ago, electric vehicles were pretty rare or cost a fortune, but with more and more of the larger car brands getting into the game, there are a lot of excellent and even budget-friendly choices nowadays. That said, the electrical network for charging your cars might not be that widespread, so instead you'll have to rely on charging your car at home. Luckily, there are a lot of excellent car chargers at a discount, so if you've just bought an EV or want to upgrade your current charging solution, be sure to check out our favorite deals below.
Shockflo EV charger — $205, was $220

This EV charger by Shockflo is a Level 2 EV charger, which offers six times faster charging than a standard charger. It delivers 24 miles with just one hour of charging, and it can act as a mobile charger you can throw in the trunk or be mounted to a wall. It has an LCD display with useful information like charging rate, voltage, and charging time, as well as LED indicator lights that lets you know charging progress and errors.

Cars

Mercedes-Benz EQG: range, price, release date, and more

Concept image of the larger electric G-Wagon

The G-Class is going electric. We already knew that Mercedes-Benz was working on an electric, small-size G-Wagon, but it looks like the company is also working on a larger G-Class SUV, in the form of the EQG. In fact, Mercedes has gone as far as to show off a concept version of the off-roader.

While there's much we don't know about what will become the production model of the EQG, Mercedes has also shared a lot about it. Curious about whether the Mercedes-Benz EQG could be the EV for you? Here's everything we know so far.
Design
Fear not -- the EQG will retain many of the design aspects of the G-Class that you already know and love but with a modern face-lift. The EQG will keep the boxy design that gives the G-Class a classic look but with some additional modern styling, at least if the concept version is anything to go by.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs. Kia EV9: battle of affordable electric SUVs

Kia EV9 GT-Line Three Quarters

The long-awaited Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it's an excellent option for those who want an electric SUV that doesn't completely break the bank. Sure, the R2 isn't cheap -- but it's a whole lot cheaper than most other EVs out there, especially when it comes to SUVs. But Rivian isn't the only company trying to tackle the problem of the budget electric SUV. The Kia EV9 is finally available, and it too offers a modern design and a range of helpful features.

Given the fact that the Rivian R2 and Kia EV9 are two electric SUVs in a similar price range, you might be wondering which is better for your needs. That's why we put the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 head-to-head.
Design
Both the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 are actual SUVs -- not crossovers pretending to be SUVs, like plenty of other EVs out there. The two vehicles offer big, boxy designs and plenty of interior space, making them excellent options for families or those who need that extra storage.