5 Popular Modes of Transportation Other Than Uber

  • Lyft
  • Curb
  • Sidecar
  • GetAround
  • Public Transportation

While Uber is the most well-known ride app in the world, it’s certainly not the only one available. Uber has been plagued by one problem after another, and customers and drivers are tired of their practices like price gouging during peak times or pushing drivers into bad loans. Whether people want to drive for another company or would rather spend their money on one that isn’t so troubled, there are definitely alternatives to Uber.

1. Lyft

When comparing the cost to a destination, Lyft can often be the cheaper option compared to Uber. With the fact that it’s well-known, Uber is banking on their name and charging more for a ride to the same destination. That extra money doesn’t translate into more money in the driver’s pocket. That isn’t true with Lyft. They charge the customer less and give more of that money to the driver. While it could be a tactic to outshine Uber for a short period of time, it’s one that benefits both driver and customer. It’s also been a fact for years, so it’s doubtful that it’s a temporary ploy for new business.

2. Curb

Curb is a taxi app instead of a ride sharing app. Instead of hailing a cab in a major city, riders can call one to their front door. If they happen to see one traveling the streets, pairing that cab with a curb account to pay for the ride is simple. People don’t regularly carry cash anymore. This app eliminates the need to have cash for a ride around the city to the destination. It’s available in 65 cities across the world and linked to over 50,000 cabs. There are a number of benefits to using the app for taxi rides versus using a service like Uber. The passenger is getting a professional taxi driver who is fully insured and licensed. This driver will know the city intimately, which can be quite different for those who drive part time for Uber.

3. Sidecar

With this app, drivers are sharing rides with as many passengers as they’d like to carry. The company is calling itself the cheapest in the U.S. It’s tough to gauge the legitimacy of the claim, but they do allow drivers to set their own prices to be competitive with others. It works like Uber in that there’s an app where riders can request a ride to a destination. They’ll get a list of drivers to choose based on price, book the ride and pay all within the app.

Read: Top 15 Hotel and Hospitality Management Online Degree Programs

4. GetAround

This company has a twist on the ride sharing world. Instead of riding with a stranger, people are able to rent their cars to others by the hour or by the day. For example, those who spend their day at the office will have a car that sits idle in the parking lot. That car could be making the person money instead of parked all day. The GetAround app takes care of all the details like finding a renter, finding a car to rent and booking the rental. All the owner has to do is make the keys accessible to the renter.

5. Public Transport

This last might not seem like a great alternative to Uber, but it’s one of the cheapest ways to get around major cities. Instead of sitting in the back of a stranger’s car during peak times, taking the subway or the bus can be more affordable while getting the rider to their destination faster. Sometimes, it’s not worth hiring a car or paying for a ride.

There are plenty of alternatives to Uber, but they’re not as well-known. They don’t get the kind of press that Uber gets, but that spotlight often highlights the worst of Uber’s decision. There are others that are more affordable and less risky for riders and drivers alike.