Uber Expands Uber Bike, Gets Into Car Rentals

Uber, aiming to expand access to transportation for the masses, announced news on Wednesday (April 11) that it has launched a series of product updates that help riders get around without the need for a vehicle.

In a blog post, Uber Chief Executive Dara Khosrowshahi said to meet that end, Uber Bike by JUMP is expanding to Washington, D.C. The service, which was first piloted in San Francisco earlier in 2018, will enable residents and visitors to Washington, D.C. to find and book a JUMP pedal-assist electric bike right from the Uber app.

“We’re particularly excited about JUMP Bikes because they can provide a convenient and environmentally friendly ride that’s often faster, especially in dense cities where space is limited and roads can be congested,” wrote the executive.

In addition to expanding Uber Bike by JUMP into a new city, Khosrowshahi said that later in April the company plans on launching Uber Rent powered by Getaround in San Francisco. The cars will be shared by people throughout the city and will be equipped with Getaround’s technology so drivers can access the vehicles instantly. Users can rent vehicles via the Uber app.

The ridesharing company also inked a partnership with Masabi, the global public transit mobile ticketing service, to enable Uber customers to book and use transit tickets via the app.

“For many people, getting around their city is already a multimodal affair, and this partnership will let riders seamlessly combine public transit with other transportation options like ridesharing, no matter where they need to go,“ Khosrowshahi said.

The CEO also announced a pilot of SharedStreets in Washington, D.C., in which Uber will share data on curb usage across all modes of transportation. Khosrowshahi said better understanding of curb utilization can help cities prepare for a future where more of its residents access transportation via different shared modes instead of relying on their own vehicles. Uber plans to expand that service to other cities as well.

“As we think about where we want our cities to be in the future, we know we can do more, and we will,” said Khosrowshahi. “Technology and data alone are not solutions for urban problems — but when done right, and in partnership with others, they have the potential to contribute to a better world for all. We’re excited to move forward with cities.”