More electric bikes and $10 million fund for transit advocacy underline why ?a car isn?t always the best way to get around? Ride-hailing giant Uber, which helped jumpstart the ongoing revolution in mobile technology and urban transit by popularizing a new way to move about cities, has decided cars aren?t always the best way to get around.
In a blog post, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi announced a three-tiered plan to support sustainable mobility by reducing congestion, supporting car-free transit, and funding transit innovation.
?We recognize we need to step up and support cities that take bold steps to solve their transportation problems,? Khosrowshahi writes. ?We are in a unique position to have a meaningful and positive impact on the communities we serve across the globe.? Uber will spend $10 million over three years as part of a Fund for Sustainable Mobility to support campaigns for safety and improved transit. This will include a $1 million investment to push for the passage of congestion pricing in New York City as well as funding for the non-profit PeopleForBikes.
Second, it will share more trip data with cities, including more segmented, street-level speed data, and help develop best practices for street design.
?If the city, and traffic, isn?t efficient, then it doesn?t work for Uber.?
Finally, the company will significantly expand its fleet of Jump bikes, the dockless, pedal-assist electric vehicles that Uber acquired earlier this year, which it has been tes...