Introduction
The ride sharing economy is booming, and it’s been the catalyst for a lot of innovation in the transportation industry. The days of calling up your local taxi service are long gone—there are now dozens upon dozens of apps that let you get rides from people who want to make some extra cash on their personal vehicles. Here we’ll outline 10 of our favorites:
Uber
Uber is a ride-sharing app that allows you to request a car and driver through your smartphone. Uber also operates in more than 700 cities around the world, making it one of the most popular transportation network companies (TNCs).
Uber’s services include UberX (low cost), UberXL and Uber Select (luxury vehicles), as well as carpooling options like Uber Pool and Express Pool for those who want to split the cost with others heading in roughly the same direction. You can also use UberEats to order food delivery from local restaurants that partner with this feature.
Lyft
Lyft is a ride sharing app. Lyft is a peer-to-peer ride sharing service that uses your GPS location and matches you with other Lyft users nearby who are going in the same direction. The driver can then decide if they want to pick up the person requesting a ride, and both parties can see each other’s name and picture before deciding whether or not to go ahead with the transaction.
Lyft began as Zimride, an online platform where people could find others willing to share rides between cities or states (for example, someone driving from Los Angeles to San Francisco might seek out passengers who wanted to make that trip). In 2012, Zimride became Lyft Inc., which launched its mobile app in 2013 as well as expanded into new markets across North America–including New York City later that year–and internationally (including Toronto). Today there are over 300 U.S.-based cities where Lyft operates; it also has operations overseas including Australia and Canada
Sidecar
Sidecar is a ridesharing app that allows you to request a ride from your phone. The app has a rating system for drivers and passengers, so you can see if your driver is safe or if you are a good passenger. Sidecar also has an insurance policy that covers up to $1 million in damage caused by its drivers during the course of their business relationship with Sidecar (this does not include coverage for personal use).
RelayRide
RelayRide is the only car-sharing service that allows users to rent cars from private owners. The company was founded in 2011 and has over 300,000 users in more than 100 cities across the country.
Users can search for available cars within their city, or book one directly from the app. RelayRide also offers insurance coverage for all rentals as well as roadside assistance for emergencies such as flat tires or dead batteries (you will have to pay a deductible).
Roadie
Roadie is a ride-sharing platform that connects drivers with passengers. It’s a great way to earn money while driving, get a ride while traveling or make new friends!
Flywheel
Flywheel is a ride-sharing app that allows you to request a driver for your car. It’s very similar to Uber and Lyft, but it operates in a slightly different way. With Flywheel, you’ll have the option of requesting an electric vehicle or hybrid car–so if you want to go green with your ride-sharing experience (and help out the environment), this could be a great option for you!
The cost of using Flywheel will depend on where in America you live: The app charges $0-$2 per mile driven depending on where they are operating at any given time; however, there are no base fees associated with using Flywheel like there are with other apps like Lyft or UberX (which charge $1 per minute).
Whisk
Whisk is a ride-sharing app that connects riders with drivers. The app is available in the US, UK, and Canada and designed for people who need to get from A to B in a hurry. Whisk has partnered with Uber so you can use your existing account on this new platform–and vice versa!
The best part about Whisk? It’s free! You don’t have to pay any fees or tips like other ride-sharing apps do; instead of cash payments being made at the end of each trip (like Lyft), all transactions are handled through the app itself so there aren’t any awkward moments where someone has forgotten their wallet or credit card at home when taking an UberX ride downtown after work just because they were too busy getting ready before heading out again later that evening as opposed
RideAmigos
RideAmigos is a rideshare app for the Latin community. The service connects drivers with passengers in the U.S., and it was founded by two women who wanted to provide an alternative way for people to get around town.
RideAmigos uses geolocation technology to connect riders with nearby drivers, which means that you can easily find someone nearby who will take you where you need to go–and vice versa! It’s also easy enough for users of any age or skill level: no previous experience needed here!
Carpooling.com
Carpooling is a great way to save money, reduce your carbon footprint, and meet new people. You can find a ride with someone you know or with someone you don’t know. You can also find a ride that will take you all the way to your destination or just part of the way there!
Zipcar
Zipcar is a membership-based car rental company with over 7,000 vehicles in the United States and Canada. It offers hourly and daily rates for short-term vehicle rentals, including cars, trucks, SUVs and vans. Zipcar members can reserve vehicles online or through its mobile app. Zipcar’s mobile app allows users to find available cars near them at any time as well as reserve them directly from their phones.
Conclusion
Ride sharing apps have changed the way we get around, and they’re not going anywhere. With so many options to choose from, it can be hard to decide which one is right for you–but we think these 10 are some of the best. Whether you want convenience or savings, these apps will help you find the ride that fits your needs perfectly!
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