Uber is beta testing a new service aimed at commuters

Why drive yourself when it might be cheaper to coast to work in the back of an Uber? Today Uber launched the beta of a new flat-fee long-distance uberPOOL option aimed at commuters. It offers pre-priced shared trips into bustling San Francisco from the outlying cities of Palo Alto, Mountain View, and San Jose from 6am to 10am. For example, the Palo Alto to SF ride this morning was set at $20. The idea is that by showing the riders the cost up front, they can calculate whether it’s a better deal than the cost of driving. If Uber can make carpooling to work cheaper than the gas plus parking plus stress of commuting, car ownership unravels. The inconvenience of commuting is one of the central reasons for buying a vehicle. Attracting the commuter market is a big step towards Uber’s mission to replace car ownership. TechCrunch’s Nitesh Kulkarni spotted the test this morning offering a ride from Stanford to SF for $20. When asked about it, Uber’s Bay Area General Manager Wayne Ting wrote, “We are piloting uberPOOL as an option from the Peninsula to San Francisco during the morning commute to ease the hassle and expense of driving into the city. With more folks sharing rides, we can make the price point more affordable, help get cars off the road and ease congestion.”