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For Wilkes University freshman Ashley Grayson, no car is no problem.
That’s because the Wilkes-Barre resident is among a growing number of locals forsaking cabs and buses in favor of Uber, a transportation network designed to connect drivers with people needing rides through a mobile app.
“I use it almost daily for getting to work and to school,” Grayson, 18, said. “The drivers are friendly. The cars are clean, and it’s faster than a cab.”
Grayson also likes the ability to request a ride and pay for it with a few swipes of her finger through the Uber app, with no cash transaction necessary.
Her views echo those of others who spoke with the Times Leader about the service, whose praises included “reliable,” “fast” and “overall a pleasant experience.”
Formally known as Uber Technologies Inc., the service started in 2009 in California, and went on to find a niche in metropolitan areas with large concentrated populations, such as New York City and Philadelphia.
But the past seven months have shown the formula can work outside big cities, too, after Uber rolled into Luzerne and Lackawanna counties in February to serve Northeastern Pennsylvania’s rambling geography.
“We have been thrilled with the reception in the area,” said Uber General Manager of Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania Expansion, Jennifer Krusius.
How many people has Uber carried here? Krusius said she could not share the exact number of drivers and rides, because those statistics are proprietary.
“I can say we have hundreds of driver partners in the area doing thousands of trips,” Krusius said.
Uber’s entry into the market followed existing demand. The state’s Public Utility Commission and Uber received about 3,000 letters from residents in Northeastern Pennsylvania voicing a need for the service in January, she said.
Statewide, a recent analysis showed that 77 percent of Pennsylvania residents now have access to the service, she said.
Success
Two factors make Uber successful in the two-county region, according to local marketing analyst John Bartorillo, a partner at Maslow Lumia Bartorillo in Wilkes-Barre.
One is the preconception of conventional taxi service, which he called “a mainstream idea.”
And the ability to use a smartphone-based app to schedule and pay for a ride adds a “cool factor,” he said.
The second factor is the labor structure. Uber drivers are not employees but contractors, and driving for the service allows them to “shape their time and the ability to pull revenue” from a vehicle they own, Bartorillo said.
Operators are required to participate in extensive background checks before they can become a Uber driver, Krusius said.
Also, the Uber brand and method of use targets millennials, Bartorillo said, referencing the young generation who are flocking to the region’s colleges and universities.
Krusius reported usage in the Wilkes-Barre and Scranton areas range from people getting to and from medical appointments, work or just wanting a safe ride on the weekends.
“It (Uber) is being used as a filler for gaps in bus routes,” Krusius said.
Uber riders
“Everything is done on your phone,” Kingston resident, Nimita Patel, 22 said. “There is no extra fee for passengers and no monthly app fee.”
When a Uber user submits a ride request, it is approved and the driver’s name, photo, vehicle’s make, model and license plate number is sent to you, Krusius said.
That is another plus for Grayson.
“You can track the car,” she said. “You get the driver’s phone number in case something happens, and you have to change your (pick-up) location.”
Fees
Uber rates are reasonable, Nicole Boyle, 32, of Plains Township, said.
Boyle and a group of friends used the local Uber service to obtain a safe ride home from a beer festival at Montage.
In the past, she has used Uber in New York City and Philadelphia.
“It is like having your own personal limo service without the high cost,” Boyle said. “Rates depend on where you are and what kind of vehicle you are requesting.”
A Uber ride, in a four-door sedan, from Moosic to Plains Township was $38, she said. The cost was split between four people.
In May, Patel and a group of friends used the service for a ride from Kingston into Wilkes-Barre.
Within minutes, a sleek Lincoln arrived to shuttle the group into town.
“It (the car) was very luxurious,” Patel said. “There was no extra fee for passengers and the driver was friendly.”
As a first-time user, Patel said she received a promotional code giving a discount up to $25. This offer provided a free ride for her and her friends.
