Ride-Sharing Into Your Destination

After a fun night with my friends in Boston, I pull up my Lyft app to get a ride home.  I usually stay out late at night and I don’t feel safe traveling by foot.  Who knows what happens on the trains at this time of night?  Ride sharing apps like Lyft or Uber have become the social norm for millennials who are searching for a ride.  Why are ride-sharing apps trending more than taxis?  Because taxis are SO 20^th century!

In all seriousness, taxi rides aren’t the most pleasant experiences.  Most of the bright yellow cabs are unkempt, the costs of the rides burn a hole in your pocket, and your driver will probably be a grumpy old man that wants nothing to do with you.  Lyft provided me the exact opposite experience and it provided me the option to rate how good my driver was.

Ride-sharing apps like Uber and Lyft were the pioneers in transforming the way we get around in the city.  With the release of new ride-sharing apps each year, what other options could we choose?  Are there unique ride-sharing apps with interesting features?  The answer to both of those questions are yes.  Here are some unique ride-sharing apps people can choose from for their phones:

Lyft: Lyft is known as ‘a ride whenever you need one’.  Launched in San Francisco on June 2012, Lyft’s mobile app connects drivers with passengers who are in need of a ride.  Riders can share the costs with their friends and will match with other riders who are heading into the same direction.  Passengers can rate their driver based on things like friendliness or cleanliness once the ride is over.  This app is geared toward the young, tech-savvy crowd that want to save a few extra bucks on their trip.

Chariot For Women: Chariot For Women is a unique app that caters to women only and features only women drivers.  The app hit Boston on April 19^th, providing a safer alternative for women who are riding alone.  Other than adult women, Chariot For Women can pick up boys and girls under the age of 13.  Anyone who identifies as a woman, even trans-gendered, are able to use this app.

This idea stems from the sexual assault incidents within the past years involving Uber/Lyft drivers.  Many sexual assault cases from around the world prompted businesses to think more about safety issues surrounding women passengers and male drivers.  This idea seems great for women seeking a ‘Cinderella’ experience for their ride.  Who wouldn’t want to ride in a beautiful carriage on their way to a party with their gal pals?  Just don’t forget your glass slipper on your way out!

Fasten: Boston-based Fasten hit the market last year as a means to disrupt the competition with Uber and Lyft.  Their marketing plan surrounds the idea of having riders pay less while the driver makes more money.  Passengers always see what the total cost will be during the ride, so no one will be shocked by the ending price.  Unlike Uber/Lyft, Fasten has no surprise surge pricing that comes up.  This is a great Boston-based app for those who need a cheap ride in and around the city.

Bridj: Rather than being another ride-sharing app, Boston-based Bridj prides itself as being “the world’s first pop-up mass transit system”.  Rather than relying on cars, Bridj provides 14-seat luxury shuttles for passengers that want to get around style.  These shuttles have leather seats, Wi-Fi, and an average pick-up time of less than 10 minutes.  Those living in Boston, D.C., or Kansas City shouldn’t pass up this unique ride-sharing experience.

So there you have it!  A few unique ride-sharing apps to travel to your destination.  Whether it is for saving money or taking a trip with your gal pals, there’s always a unique app for everyone.  Don’t hail for a taxi, skip the public transit, and forget walking alone in the middle of the night.  The 21^st century taxi services are here and they will provide you a much better riding experience.