Uber, the smartphone ride-hailing service, launched Thursday in Terre Haute, one of eight Indiana cities where Uber now operates.
Using Uber's smartphone application, riders simply push a button on their phone to obtain a ride. Uber uses screened drivers who use their personal vehicles to provide ridesharing service 24/7, 365 days a year.
"We're excited to formally announce that Uber will be launching in Terre Haute. This will bring safe, affordable, and reliable transportation to thousands of residents while at the same time creating flexible earning opportunities for hundreds of additional Hoosiers in the region over the next year,” said Marco McCottry, general manager of Uber for Illinois & Indiana.
Whether it’s an early morning airport drop-off or a late night ride home after an evening out, Uber helps riders get from A to B at the push of a button, the company said in a statement. Both uberX, the company’s popular ridesharing product, as well as uberXL, an option for larger parties up to six passengers, will be available in Terre Haute.
Since its launch in 2012, Uber has become the most recognized alternative to traditional taxi cabs. Uber drivers do not possess special licenses; they use their personal vehicles to offer discounted fare rides. Ride-hailing and payment are all handled through a smartphone app, and you needn't handle cash or even offer tips to your Uber driver, the company stated.
Uber drivers cannot pick up street hails, which is the biggest reason Uber is not exactly a taxi provider. Instead, Uber is a kind of car-for-hire service that relies on smartphone tech as its dispatch and fee manager.