East Austin Leads the City in Number of Requested Uber Rides

Uber just released its “Austin Mobility Case Study,” and East Austin is leading the city in uberX trips.

The popular ride-share service has been in business in Austin since 2014. The case study revealed that one in three uberX trips in Austin begin or end on the east side. The Austin study also found that the time of requests spike late at night when other forms of traditional transportation are unavailable or limited.

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Since Uber and Lyft - another popular ride share service - arrived in Austin, there was a small decrease in driving while intoxicated. In 2013, there were 6,396 DWI arrests, and in 2014, that number dropped to 6,169. Austin police told KUVE that they do not have the data to support or refute whether or not Uber or Lyft is behind the slight decrease in DWI arrests, but they believe every legitimate alternate form of transportation is helpful in preventing people from driving while impaired.

Currently, Uber is fighting to keep its services the same in Austin. Austin City Council is deciding whether to extend regulations for ride-sharing services, and its weighing the costs and benefits of ride-sharing.

The Mobility Council Committee discussed two policy changes to the ordinance during its Oct. 7 meeting, including public safety concerns, such as adding fingerprinting to driver background checks and implementing a fee to cover the city’s costs to operate the TNC program.

[Photo: Uber]