Uber has launched UberCommute, a new carpooling service that allows drivers to pick up passengers along with their commute and split the cost of their trip.
According to the Verge, Uber says the service will start in Chengdu, China, which is the company's biggest single market. Uber plans to bring UberCommute to cities around the world in the future.
When drivers enter their destination, it will show them the riders who are requesting trips in the same direction. The app will also tell the driver the payment that they will get for carrying the passenger. From the passenger's point of view, it looks like the experience will be roughly the same as requesting a regular Uber car.
Uber says in a blog post that when people can push a button and get a ride in minutes they are less likely to drive themselves. So instead of thirty people using their own cars, they have one car serving them all. But that is just the start.
Uber also says that in many cities, such as San Francisco, New York, Chengdu or Paris, so many people now use Uber that there are a ton of duplicate rides, passengers wanting to get to the exact same place at the exact same time. With services like UberCommute and UberPool they are making it possible for them to share the ride.