WASHINGTON – Uber is dangling a promotional rate in front of would-be riders in the D.C. area, hoping it encourages more users to request a ride.
The popular ridesharing service on Friday announced it was cutting UberX fares by 15 percent in the region, effective immediately.
“We’re really just looking to see how the market reacts,” says Zuhairah Washington, the general manager of Uber D.C.
“In the instance that we see a really good (boost) and folks taking Uber more, the more likely we are to keep the price reduction in place,” she says.
A sample fare from Georgetown to Dupont Circle now costs $5.
Across the country, some Uber drivers, who act as contractors, not employees, have protested their pay and personal requirement to maintain their vehicles.
Uber says provisions have been made to ensure drivers don’t take the hit during the promotional rate.
The company hopes drivers see increased demand, which could compensate for lower fares.
“What we’ve done to back that up is to actually guarantee an hourly rate,” Washington says. “Those guarantees range from $16 to $26, depending on the time of day.”
