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Mark Scott writes in the NYT that Google will start testing a carpooling service where drivers will be able to use a smartphone app called RideWith to pick up passengers during rush hours, allowing them to split the cost of their rides to work. Unlike similar services offered by the likes of Uber, Google's carpooling service will allow drivers to recoup only the cost of gas and wear and tear to their vehicles. Drivers will not be able to use the app to offer traditional taxi services. "Carpooling can be a hassle and difficult to manage," said Waze, the Israeli social mapping start-up that the company bought in 2013 for $1 billion. "Waze has developed RideWith to serve Israeli commuters at their greatest time of need: rush hour. We hope to learn a lot from this pilot and will let you know how it goes."
The service, which is currently available only in Israel, is part of Google's increasing moves into the territory of Uber which has started its own carpooling service in the United States, which allows users to divide the cost of a ride when traveling in the same direction. This is the latest sign that Google and Uber are more likely to be ferocious competitors than allies. Google is preparing to offer its own ride-hailing service, most likely in conjunction with its long-in-development driverless car project while Uber is also teaming up with Carnegie Mellon University for a research facility in Pittsburgh, Pa., to develop its own autonomous vehicle technology.
Original Submission
(Score: 1) by seeprime on Wednesday July 08 2015, @01:22PM
"Google's carpooling service will allow drivers to recoup only the cost of gas and wear and tear to their vehicles." I don't see many people willing to do this on a regular basis. Only lonely people would do so. Or, maybe, people that drive junk cars that want someone else to pay for their gas. How odd.
(Score: 2) by PiMuNu on Wednesday July 08 2015, @04:47PM
It's reasonably common in Europe, where folks like to reduce their carbon footprint or don't like driving much. For example, https://liftshare.com/ [liftshare.com]
(Score: 3, Insightful) by bob_super on Wednesday July 08 2015, @04:49PM
Courtesy of Google knowing everything about a phone's owner, you can trust that the carpool is somewhat safe (if only because they'll find the guy, and later your body).
A lot of people around the world still take hitchhikers, for no money at all, even -gasp- people who don't carry a gun to protect themselves from the potentially-evil stranger.
If I knew it would only cost me five minutes to grab someone to safely share in my traffic jam misery and save me a few bucks, I probably would. You learn a lot from talking to random people.