Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

posted by janrinok on Tuesday February 27 2018, @08:04PM   Printer-friendly
from the unintended-consequences dept.

Uber, Lyft worsen city traffic, studies show: report

Despite promises of reducing traffic congestion, ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft are doing the opposite as their apps pluck passengers off public transportation and put pedestrians in cars, the Associated Press reported.

According to an AP review of research, studies show the ride-hailing apps are directly competing with mass transit and the increased number of taxis and Uber and Lyft cars on the road contribute to slower traffic. A New York-based study cited "vacant vehicles occupied only by drivers waiting for their next trip request," as a contributing factor for high-volume traffic in Manhattan's central business district, the AP reported.


Original Submission

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
  • (Score: 2) by frojack on Wednesday February 28 2018, @01:54AM (1 child)

    by frojack (1554) on Wednesday February 28 2018, @01:54AM (#644920) Journal

    the taxi is about the only equivalent that Uber replaces one for one. Uber's presence is obviously going to add to current traffic levels.

    Somewhere around that Period, you math went pear shaped.

    --
    No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
    Starting Score:    1  point
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  

    Total Score:   2  
  • (Score: 2) by insanumingenium on Wednesday February 28 2018, @04:36PM

    by insanumingenium (4824) on Wednesday February 28 2018, @04:36PM (#645236) Journal
    And half way through that sentence your reading comprehension went pear shaped.

    the conclusion is common sense, people aren't using Uber (primarily) to take the place of their privately owned car, the taxi is about the only equivalent that Uber replaces one for one.

    Using taxis in place of private car ownership is a relatively uncommon scenario. In the US, I only know of it being a thing in NYC. Sure, take an Uber instead of a taxi, no net difference on road usage. Most people either don't have a car, in which case Uber being so affordable and available make it a very attractive, or they use their own car for a majority of trips. The majority of scenarios I have seen using Uber are "new" traffic. Where you might have walked, or biked, or bussed, or carpooled, you will now Uber. All that is new traffic. It shouldn't be surprising that making car trips cheaper and more available leads to an increase in usage.