Uber launched a new initiative that seeks to encourage car owners in the United States and Canada to stop using their personal vehicles for five weeksin order to promote the use of alternative transport and reduce carbon emissions. The test, called “One Less Car”, will offer USD 1,000 to 175 selected people in seven cities: Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington DC, Miami, San Francisco, Toronto and Vancouver, according to the report. NBCMiami.
The “One Less Car” trial will run from July 22 to August 25 and seeks to study the effects of a less car-dependent lifestyle. This initiative comes in a context in which the average monthly cost of owning a vehicle in the United States exceeds USD 1,000. Factors such as high prices for new vehicles and a 90% increase in financing rates are contributing to these high costs, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA), cited by NBCMiami.
Uber announced that participants will receive a total of $1,000 broken down as follows: $500 in Uber Cash, which can be used for Uber Rides and Lime electric bikes and scooters; a USD 200 voucher for car rental or car-sharing services; and USD 300 for other means of transportation, such as public transportation. Additionally, those selected will get a free one-month Uber One membership. This information was confirmed by The New York Post.
To be eligible, participants must reside in the cities listed, be over 18 years old, have a valid driver’s license, use a vehicle more than three times per week, have a bank card and be willing to document their experience, it says. Axios. According to the same source, applications will be received online until July 7, through a 34-question survey.
Uber explained that the decision to implement this test is based on several factors, including urban traffic and air pollution. According to them, reducing dependence on cars can significantly contribute to improving the quality of life in cities, in addition to providing economic savings to users. This effort is part of a broader strategy of the company to reduce carbon emissions, a strategy that also includes initiatives such as the collaboration with Hertz to offer electric Tesla vehicles to its drivers in the US and Europe, as mentioned. The New York Post.
In 2023, Uber conducted a similar pilot in Australia, where 58 participants pledged not to use their cars for four weeks. According to Nicole Tan of NBC Miami, most of them managed to replace most of their regular travel with alternative methods, such as walking, cycling and using public transport. Uber hopes to achieve similar results in North America.
An Uber report, cited in Axios, reveals that in the United States there are 233 million private vehicles, of which 80 million travel less than 16.09 kilometers per day on average. This figure underlines the potential impact that a change in habits towards more sustainable transport options could have.
Recipients of the One Less Car program will be required to document their experience, the company said. Uber has collaborated with Behavioral Insights Team, a research consultancy specializing in behavioral sciences, to measure the impact of the trial. Participants will be required to record the transportation alternatives they use and the impact they have on their daily lives, information that will be analyzed for future studies and possible expansions of the program.
In a complementary way, companies like Lyft have launched similar initiatives in the past. In 2018, according to information from ReutersLyft implemented the “Ditch Your Car Challenge,” a program that also offered credits in exchange for participants stopping using their vehicles for a certain period of time.
