Can Public Transit Beat Uber?

Can LA Transit operate an Uber-like service that makes transit better, unlike Uber, which undermines transit?

Resources on this topic:

Produced by Dave Amos and the fine folks at Standard Studios.
Select images and video from Getty Images.
Black Lives Matter.

[CityBeautiful]

Sorry about the misleading Uber/Subway graph. I wanted to show that Subway ridership declined by the same amount as rideshare rides increased, but it looks like there are only 60k Subway users! I'll do better next time!

[domesticcat]

Microbus services like this (except lower tech) have been really common in exurban, rural and underserved areas in Europe for decades and really helped people get to cities if they didn't drive, especially in rural Eastern Europe before cars became super common

[MattyMolotov]

The last time I've seen an uber ride cost below $10 was like 5 years ago, and even then that price point was becoming a rarity. Nowadays, where I live, I think it's more like $20 minimum, up to $70 or $80 under certain conditions. cheap transit authority-run alternative wins hands down, idc if the trip takes slightly longer

[Westlander]

I was thinking about this recently. I think it’s a good way to connect far-flung suburbs with urban centers and downtowns, even if there’s some kinks to be worked out. One feature it would need to have is late night service, at least on weekends when people are out and about. Hope more cities adopt this, I would love to have something like it in the Phoenix area.

[Maxime_K-G]

6:50 At the end of the day, this is a failure mostly caused by US transportation planners that have been forcing sprawl and mostly building roads and highways for the past sixty years.

[ethanstump]

it's weird to me how car centric America is, to the point that the image of public transport is still a car, and not trains. trains are more resource and thus cost efficient. just as we are seeing with solar being more expensive upfront but less expensive over it's life time, this is true of trains, and doubly so for electric trains.

[vucub_caquix]

Full-time Chicago uber driver and underserved west-side resident here:

YO CTA, GET ON THIS. I would MUCH rather drive for the City and cover all of the areas that aren't covered by rail (or are too dangerous to wait on corners at night too long for buses)

[jonahflint]

Salt Lake City is also trailing a ride share program. It only serves a few small areas so it’s not been useful to me but it’s nice that it’s there and hopefully they can expand its area to be a true Last mile vehicle when TRAX, a bus or Frontrunner can’t take you there

[mujahara]

Transit vehicles similar size like this are quite common in other parts of the world. It's good that LA is making modern versions of those minivans you would find in developing countries. For commuters, this could've been a great money saving solution for transit's last mile problem.

[TedWillingham]

I would love to have this in Seattle. Many of my trips in the city are short distances, but require one or even two changes - and those changes are often busses with 20 or 30 minute frequencies. That's a no-go!

For example, I'm about 20-40 minutes via bus on average away from a light rail stop, which has wonderful grade-separated 4 minute service to downtown. It's a 7 minute drive to the same stop!

Using this service, I could cut across the city a lot easier, or get from my house to major bus or light rail hubs quickly.

[xoxoamazingful]

Uber exploits labour from lower-income people, and heavily reduces transit ridership and frequency which the poorest people rely on most 😩

[JuanWayTrips]

As someone who lives in LA, I have a love/hate relationship with Metro Micro. When it works, it really is a great option. But there have been many times when my ride doesn't show or comes so late that I can't make it to my destination on time or connect with the bus/train that I need, forcing me to either take an Uber or drive. It doesn't matter if I book my ride an hour out or 3 days out too.

LA Metro does have a significant driver shortage, and I think they do overbook the Micros. It's a great idea, but the execution hasn't been great. I'm jealous that you were able to get something within 30 minutes of when you booked it, as often I have to book it hours in advance just to have a chance.

[justanotheryoutubechannel]

Holy crap, it costs ONE DOLLAR for a ride? That’s incredible, I heard the performance and was worried since it was definitely disappointing, but I thought a reasonable price could save it and you can’t get much better than 1 dollar. That’s a bargain.

[joshuasims]

I live in a college town of 100k and I think a service like metro micro would be perfect here. We have busses but they are very infrequent and under used. I feel like supplementing them with these smaller vans could be a great fit for a city of this size.

[AaronSmith-sxez]

"Group ride sharing" (like "Metro Micro") has a lot of potential. Say Sam wants to go from point A to point Z. Bill from point C to point X. A van that can pick up Sam from A, Bill from C, drop off Bill at X and Sam at Z...very efficient. Would love to see Uber innovate like this. Uber could also innovate by having more special needs/disabled/child seat options. As for the point about uber competing with transit...sometimes the opposite happens. I know somebody will actually take uber to/from the train station and for them Uber has solved the "last mile" problem with metro transit, which is a good thing.

[-OSwords]

This is amazing, this is the future & the price...this could be a legit alternative to many many people owning a car if it is rolled out city wide & and can serve an large populace (which would also cut down on transit time). My only questions are do they have cargo space for groceries & will they have some running at 2am when bars close?? These are the biggest downfalls of buses & other public transport. If people can't pick up & transport a weeks worth of groceries or get home after going out, they still need a car & the service won't replace personal car ownership-which is really what needs to happen in the long run.

[seldomplayed]

As a rideshare driver, thank you so much for including the question “do you like driving for Uber“ as an awkward question. I get that question every single day and I absolutely hate it. Until you mentioned that it was someone awkwardly trying to make small talk with a stranger, I always inferred that it was a really condescending question, as if they were incredulous that anyone could like such a lowbrow job or something. It never occurred to me until this moment that it was just people who have no idea how to talk to someone.

[PeterEsquire]

Glad to see this video, didn't know about metro micro. A little more bias seems to show in this video though. Uber et al have motivation to innovate (in good and bad ways) in order to make money, while public transit is MUCH slower to respond and adapt. While I agree with the conclusion, wish there was more attention given to the potential downsides of public run utilities as well.

[Noda]

I used to drive a vanpool service like this at my college and it was very very popular. I have no doubt it would be beneficial in urban suburbs where either transit lines have not extended out to yet or you need I direct link to a major brt/LRT

[FlorianWendelborn]

That’s such an American thing to call taxis "public transit". I was expecting a comparison of a real public transit system like the one Berlin has with Uber.