(Photo Illustration by Lacey Russell)
The app-based transportation service Uber is now in the city of Oxford. Thursday the company launched an expansion of its services to 22 cities.
Among them are other Southeastern Conference stomping grounds, including Auburn, Alabama; Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Athens, Georgia; College Station, Texas; Fayetteville, Arkansas; Knoxville, Tennessee; and Gainesville, Florida.
Uber General Manager for the southeast region Billy Guernier said the company intended to focus on college towns where students were in need of alternative modes of transportation.
“Students have a variety of needs to be filled whether they need to get to class or they need to get home from a night out, but what we hope to see happen is people use the service and may be not rely on their car, may be not feel the need to bring a car to campus and certainly to make smart choices when it comes to drinking and driving,” he said.
Founded in 2009, Uber began as a venture-funded startup and transportation network company based in San Francisco, California. Five years later it has expanded globally, offering its transit services in 45 countries.
“Uber is a technology company, and what we do is we create maps that connect riders to drivers,” Guernier said. “What that means is, you download the app, you put in some basic information, you upload your credit card information and then if you need a ride somewhere you set your location within our app, and you hit a button. Five minutes later, a car comes to pick you up and take you wherever you need to go.”
When passengers arrive at their set destinations the fare is charged to the credit card they filed when registering for an account.
Guernier explained Oxford Uber drivers will be local people who use their own vehicles to provide transportation. Drivers who sign up to serve the platform are required to undergo stringent background checks and record authentication processes.
Though Uber sounds similar to typical taxi services, Guernier said there are a few distinct differences.
“A taxi is something everybody understands.” Guernier said. “It’s painted a bright color and it has a taxi meter in it. It’s generally used full time for that type of service. In many places you can actually hail them off the street. What comes with that are certain regulations that need to be accounted for.
“Uber is a little bit different. It’s (drivers) that have signed up to use our platform, that have all been through a background check process that we attest to. People know what they’re getting when they’re using it.”
Guernier said fares from the Grove to the Square are around $5; Downtown to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium are around $6; and Swayze Field to Oxford Mall are around $7.
In celebration of their most recent expansion, the company will offer five rides up to $25 in fares for free through the end of Labor Day weekend.
The Uber app is available for download for Android and iPhone. For more information email support.oxford@uber.com.
Lacey Russell
dmeditor@gmail.com
