by John Kaweske | Oct 12, 2015 | Car Services, Ride Sharing
For most people, using a car service like Uber or Lyft is simple—request a car using your smartphone app, wait a couple minutes for the driver to arrive, get in, and arrive at your destination. All that changes the second you either are or are with someone who has a physical handicap that confines them to a wheelchair. Unfortunately, most vehicles used by car services aren’t modified for wheelchair accessibility. One disabled Paris resident got fed up with the lack of accesable transportation and decided it was time for a change. That’s when Charlotte de Vilmorin founded Wheeliz, a new car-sharing service in France that gives people who use wheelchairs easy-access to modified cars at an affordable price. I believe the world of startups and innovation is still disconnected from the needs of disabled people. To me, it is essential to create and build a sustainable sharing community dedicated to the mobility problem,” says de Vilmorin. And Wheeliz doesn’t only benefit those with disabilities, it also benefits the owners of these specialized vehicles. On average, adapted car owners can earn almost $400 a week listing their vehicle on the site. Currently, big players in the car service industry such as Uber and Lyft are facing several lawsuits in the United States for providing inadequate access for handicapped people. Back in July, Uber attempted to address these concerns by creating UberAssist for seniors and people with disabilities who need trained drivers to help them get in and out of the vehicle. The problem is, because Uber drivers are technically independent contractors, the company cannot require them to own a wheelchair-accessible vehicle. This becomes a huge problem as soon as a driver pulls up to a passenger who uses an electric...
by John Kaweske | Apr 21, 2015 | Ride Sharing
Yet another taxi service is to be set to launch in New York City in the upcoming weeks. The new app Via will offer $5 prepaid taxi rides from 32nd Street up to 110th Street. Although a great deal, this service will only be offered from 6:45AM – 9:00PM on weekdays. Also this ride may be subjected to be shared with other Via customers going in the same direction as you. Even though this trip is stirring up a buzz in New York City, many potential customers are questioning the service due to the idea that it is very similar to a shuttle bus service. The mindset Via is attempting to place is the idea of a reduced fare of a shared trip compared to a solo trip. The idea makes sense to many, but many are still skeptical of idea riding with strangers. Citylab‘s writer explained Via’s ultimate goal, “The company seems to recognize its potential role in the larger transit system. Ramot says that in addition to expanding its basic service to other areas, the company is also looking to partner with transit agencies in smaller cities, where a dynamic-route vanpool option might prove both complementary and cost-effective.” Ultimately, Via explained the idea of this service was to provide a more personalized experience which is more convenient, safe, and comfortable than taking the bus or train. Also, they are available at the push of a button. This is great service between a taxi and public transportation since it provides the service of a taxi, but will cost you as much as it takes to take public...
