Since launching in the Washington region in fall 2015, UberPOOL has proven popular with riders for its cheaper fares and shared-ride experience. But it’s also been a source of hardship for drivers, who say the stress of ferrying multiple passengers with different destinations — with possible pickups along the way — has proven challenging.
“Our hope is that drivers will begin to look forward to the next pickup on UberPOOL,” Aaron Schildkrout, head of driver product, said in a call with reporters this week. “Drivers say it’s the most stressful and challenging part of the experience — these extra pickups.”
The new pickup fare varies city-by-city, but in the D.C., drivers will receive an additional dollar in earnings for each new pool ride. The company expects to foot much of the bill through a reduction in its service fee. Uber noted that riders will pay the upfront fare they are quoted for the trip, regardless of whether more rides are tacked on. It was not immediately clear if the $1 pickup fare was limited to the District or applied to the entire Washington region.
In the call, Uber officials did not speculate on the estimated impact to driver earnings overall.But the changes come amid several newly-announced initiatives aimed at improving the pool experience for drivers.
For one, the company plans to adjust its routing mechanism so trips are more direct. Under the revamped algorithm, Uber says, drivers can expect to make up to 20 percent fewer turns. On the passenger end, the company says it will begin suggesting corner pickup and dropoff locations that fall along the route. Passengers will have the option to accept or deny the suggestions, but the general idea is that the corner pickup or dropoff will save time for everyone.
Drivers, meanwhile, won’t be punished for riders’ frustration with factors out of their control, Uber says. When a customer blames the driver for having too crowded a car or rowdy passengers in the backseat, the poor rating won’t count against the driver, the company said.
The rating system is significant for drivers because they can be booted from the app if their scores fall too low.
This post will be updated.