Apps Curb and Via have teamed up to create a discounted yellow cab ride-share option for New Yorkers.
The Curb-Via partnership’s yellow cab carpool service has been in effect since Tuesday morning and is a competitor to Uber’s ride-share service, UberPOOL. Wondering how this new service compares to the ride-share veteran UberPOOL? Find out below.
Which ride-share service is actually cheaper?
A route from Rockefeller Center to the Port Authority Bus Terminal costs passengers $6.62 on UberPOOL. If a passenger decides to use the yellow cab carpool service through the Curb or Via apps, it would cost them $12.77 if they’re riding alone or $7.62 if another rider joins, according to estimates from taxifarefinder.com. The taxi fare includes a $1.00 booking fee from Curb-Via that is not found on the UberPOOL platform. The passenger only receives the 40 percent reduced fare if another passenger is picked up on the way to the original passenger's final destination, which is unknown when booking.
UberPOOL is likely cheaper than the yellow cab carpool service and it secures the same fare whether or not someone else shares the ride. However, UberPOOL does have increased surge pricing at peak travel times, which could make the Curb-Via yellow cab carpool the cheaper choice during those times.
Where is the yellow cab carpool service available?
The yellow cab carpool service is only available for routes between 32nd Street and 110th Street in Manhattan, according to reports. UberPOOL, on the other hand, is active within all five boroughs of New York City. The Curb-Via partnership has plans to increase availability to all of Manhattan as well as the other boroughs with time.
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How do you reserve a ride and how do you pay?
UberPOOL and the Curb-Via partnership both use iOS and Android apps to reserve rides for their users. The companies also use cashless payments, which adds to the ease of their ride-share services. These respective companies are equally user-friendly when it comes to booking a ride and payment.
