Uber has recently launched a new service called Route Share, in which shuttles will run along fixed routes with fixed stops, picking up passengers and dropping them off at fixed times.
While many have made jokes about Silicon Valley’s latest attempt at disrupting the well-established bus model, some have taken the service more seriously, noting its potential impacts on public transit, and cities that have struggling transit systems.
There are also questions about the environmental impact, as previous research found that while ride-hailing services like Uber may displace personal car usage, they emit 69% more carbon dioxide than the trips they displace due to the amount of miles traveled without a passenger.
The service has launched in seven cities across the US, and while it is cheaper than Uber’s standard car service, it is far from the most efficient or economical way to get around in its target markets.
Some are concerned that Route Share would reduce the efficiency of public transit by using the same routes and creating more congestion.
