The Uber ride-hailing service on Tuesday announced a new feature that allows Uber riders to request a ride for their loved ones. Uber users can request a ride, sending the car to another location to pick up another party.
Now, when you set the pickup away from your current location, we’ll automatically ask whether the ride is for a family member or friend. You can then select the rider from your address book, set their destination, and request the ride on their behalf.
Once the driver is on his way, the rider will receive a text containing details about the driver, including their contact information. They’ll also able to contact the driver directly. The driver will see the rider’s name, and will also be able to contact the rider directly.
The company promotes it as a great way to keep your older relatives get around:
Saroj, aged 79 lives in Pune, India. She can’t drive herself or use the bus, and doesn’t own a smartphone, leaving her transportation options limited. Her grandson, Yash, concerned about her mobility, has been looking for solutions to get Saroj to appointments and errands, so she has the freedom to move around without him being there.
Saroj’s and Yash’s situation is similar to what we heard in research. Seniors are concerned about losing their mobility as they age, and their loved ones can feel overwhelmed when managing the senior’s transportation needs. Furthermore, today nearly 10% of the global population consists of people aged 65 and over and that number is only expected to increase. Keeping these insights top of mind, we’ve been thinking about ways to make our app more accessible to everyone in the family.
The new feature is rolling out in over 30 countries with more coming soon. Users will need the most up-to-date version of the app to use this feature. You can download the Uber app for iOS here.
