WASHINGTON — For the price of a Metro ride, you can get a lift from the newest car-sharing service to launch in D.C.
Via, which claims it has nearly 200,000 passengers a week in New York City and Chicago, entered the D.C. market Monday, with a limited service aimed at frustrated Red Line riders.
Via is a carpool model, with customers sharing the vehicle with others. Its initial service in D.C. will run along the Red Line route between Cleveland Park and NoMa-Gallaudet U. The flat $2.15 cost matches a one-way Metro ride.
The drivers are currently only available from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Via says its smart algorithm directs passengers to a nearby corner for pick up and drop off, allowing for quick and efficient shared trips without long waits or taking riders out of their way.
A flat fee of $2.15 doesn’t sound very lucrative for the driver, but Via contends it is a viable option for fair earnings, guaranteeing a minimum $20 per hour net earnings.
The Via app is free and available for both iOS and Android.
