Since starting my college career, Uber has helped me get to many different destinations.
Uber has always had my back, whether it’s driving me to my lab early in the morning when I’m always late, or getting me safely back to my apartment after a fun night out.
I can only imagine the heartbreak I felt at that moment. uber and lyft they announced Scheduled to end service in Minneapolis in early Mayaccording to USA Today.
This is a terrible decision.
Uber and Lyft’s services have provided safe transportation for countless customers over the years, saving people from long journeys in bad weather and dangerous late-night drives home when drunk people get behind the wheel. I’ve been protecting you from this.
According to Uber, alcohol-related vehicle accidents have decreased by 60% in some areas of the United States. Ellis Law Office.
Isabel Back-Leffler, a University of Minnesota senior and Uber user, is disappointed to see these ride-hailing services leave Minneapolis and doesn’t know what the alternatives will be to replace them.
“I think there are some things that cannot be replaced.” [Uber] “That would increase severe weather-related injuries such as drunk driving and other exposures,” Bachleffler said.
The increase in drunk driving is also a serious concern, and despite the existence of ride-hailing services, it remains a nationwide problem.
According to Ellis Law Firm, holidays and special events increase the risk of death or injury from a drunk driver.
Additionally, Bachleffler said she’s noticed that many people don’t take their coats with them when they go to bars or clubs. This is probably because they know they can get a ride to their next destination in comfort.
“I think we’re going to see an increase in people walking home without proper clothing during the colder months, and we’re going to see a negative impact from that,” Bachleffler said.
Anna LaGrange, a sophomore and Gopher driver, said Uber and Lyft are very important services, especially in big-city environments.
“Metropolitan services like Uber and Lyft are really important for reducing things like drunk driving,” Lagrange said. “I think it’s probably saving lives in that regard, and I think it’s also saving lives in inclement weather that prevents people from being outside for long periods of time.”
Sponsored by University of Minnesota Boynton Health, Gopher Chauffeur is a student-founded, student-employed ride program designed to provide students with a free and safe way to get home.
LaGrange said Gopher Chauffeur’s popularity will likely increase after Uber and Lyft pull out of the Minneapolis area.
LaGrange said some of Gopher Chauffeur’s drawbacks are that its service doesn’t extend into the downtown Minneapolis area and is only available to students.
Safety is always a consideration when deciding how to get from one place to another.
As a woman, I’m especially wary of jumping into a stranger’s car and giving them access to my home address.
Many women I asked about this topic had similar sentiments.
“As a woman, it’s really scary not being able to go home safely and securely,” Lagrange said. “I think so [Uber and Lyft] Services are critical to keeping Minneapolis residents safe. It’s not just women, it’s everyone. ”
Buckleffler said a safety feature he appreciates is the ability to share ride routes with friends and family, something he believes most other taxi services don’t have.
“It’s a shame that Uber is going away because I don’t think taxis have as many safety measures for women,” Bachleffler said.
As for the future of transportation in Minneapolis after its partnership with Uber and Lyft services ends, the use of public transit could increase.
“I think buses and light rail are good options, but they don’t run very late,” Bachleffler said. “I think about the New York City subway and how extensively it runs throughout the city. We don’t have that.”
Buckleffler said he hopes the changes will create an opportunity for taxi services to replace Uber and Lyft in the ride-hailing space.
“We hope that taxi services can create better working conditions for drivers,” Bachleffler said.
LaGrange said students should use Gopher chauffeur services if they need to get home safely within the campus area.
As I’ve been enjoying Uber service over the past few weeks, I’ve been thinking about why they made this decision in the first place.
As users of these services, it’s important to be aware of the work Uber drivers do to provide people with safe transportation to various destinations.
Whether they’re taking care of their families, killing time, or helping someone in need with a ride, they give more to our community than we realize, and we want them to… It’s no surprise that we are paid a living wage.
Without proper consideration of alternative services, the absence of Uber and Lyft in Minneapolis will be a serious problem for those who rely on these services for safe transportation.
