UberPool Will Let Chicagoans Carpool With Strangers Soon
By Kate Shepherd in News on Nov 9, 2015 11:18PM
Facebook.com/Uber
Chicagoans will soon be able to carpool with random strangers via Uber.
UberPool is set to launch in the city over the next few weeks, according to Crain's. Customers will be able to choose the environmentally-friendly pool option, which will allow them to share fares and rides with other people requesting a car along the same route.
It's Uber's cheapest deal but not the best, if you're in a hurry. Drivers will have to deviate from the fastest route to pick up other riders who might be late or no-shows.
Uber, which is in an ongoing battle with Chicago's cab companies, is late to introduce the pool option to the city. The service has launched in San Francisco, D.C, New York City, Los Angeles, Boston, Paris, Bangalore, India and the Chinese cities of Shanghai, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, and Guangzhou. The company's competitor Lyft has a similar service called Lyft Line which has also not yet available in Chicago.
Despite the long ride, an UberPool ride sounds incredibly entertaining. In May, actress Kristen Bell accidentally chose the pool option and while it shocked her at first, she hilariously live-tweeted the whole experience complete with a fellow rider singing Bon Jovi:
Didn't know @uber had a carpool option, but my driver just pulled over and said "gotta pick someone else up". this should be fun.
— Kristen Bell (@IMKristenBell) May 28, 2015if I'm not home in 10 minutes pls call the police and tell them i was last seen in a honda accord with 2 males mutes. #ubercarpool
— Kristen Bell (@IMKristenBell) May 28, 2015Breaking News: one of them is singing. "take my hand, well make it swear. uhhhUUHH! livin on a prayer!" #ubercarpool
— Kristen Bell (@IMKristenBell) May 28, 2015