FAQ
Q: What is Fare/Share anyway?
A: Fare/Share is a simple application that connects people in the same area who are traveling to the same general neighborhood or destination and want to save on or split cab fares. It makes getting around New York by cab cheaper, greener, and more fun. It will immediately make splitting a cab to the airport an easy, non-Craigslist proposition, and will make late-night trips out to the boroughs or New Jersey way cheaper for everyone.
Q: How is Fare/Share different from the TLC’s taxi sharing plan?
A: The TLC’s plan has pre-determined pickup and drop off spots, leaves you with no choice as to who you ride with, isn’t active 24 hours a day, and won’t take you to any neighborhoods or landmarks in and around New York City. Fare/Share does all of that! With Fare/Share, if there’s someone near you going in the same direction, you can connect. If you don’t want to ride with a guy, you don’t have to. Fare/Share gives you the option to share a fare with who you want, when you want, wherever you want.
Q: OK, fine. But isn’t that unsafe?
A: As with everything in New York, common sense is key. But Fare/Share doesn’t make you do anything at all — it just connects you with like-minded folks looking to share taxis and save money, reduce emissions, and hopefully reduce traffic in NYC. It doesn’t make sense to have 4 people leaving from the Upper West Side take 4 separate cabs to get downtown — our analysis reveals that at least 1 in 4, possibly 2 in 4 taxi rides can be shared!
Q: All right, it’s not like I’d get into a cab with a weirdo anyway. But what if the guy I ride with is just a jerk?
A: Fare/Share uses a “Fareness” feedback and rating system that asks you one question at the end of each ride: Would you ride with this person again? If you vote no, not only will his or her rating take a dip, but you’ll never see that person in your potential cabmate pool again. Fare/Share accounts are linked to your mobile number, not your email, so the likelihood of jerks re-registering multiple phones to share cabs is pretty low, and the incentive to not be a jerk is, well, pretty high!
Q: Well, how will I know where to meet my cabmate?
A: Fare/Share selects the best meeting spot for you and your cabmate(s) based on your location. But the person confirming the ride will always have the option to move the meetup spot to somewhere more convenient.
Q: OK, makes sense. But how will we actually recognize each other?
A: The same way you do when you buy tickets on Craigslist, of course. Fare/Share actually gives you two options: you can upload a photo and have it linked to your profile, or, if you’re not comfortable doing so, you can just identify yourself by choosing a garment/article of clothing and a color. Wearing a red hat or black pants? That’s all your cabmate will need to know to find you on that corner.
Q: And what if I’m running late?
A: No problem! When you confirm your ride, you can choose to make it 5 or 10 or even 15 minutes out. Your cabmate will have to confirm, of course, that the ride is still on, but you always have the option to delay a ride.
Q: Can I preload rides for later times or dates?
A: Fare/Share is for instant use. When you’re ready or about to take a cab, you let Fare/Share know and let us do the rest.
