WASHINGTON — Uber D.C. is hoping to deliver some of Metrorail’s stranded passengers Wednesday, and has announced a cap on surge pricing.
Uber says it will cap its surge pricing at 3.9x during the Metro shutdown. Surge pricing kicks in when there is increased demand for Uber services. The surge price is made clear to users in the app, which requires riders to confirm that they’re willing to pay the higher rate.
Zuhairah Washington, general manager of Uber D.C., says the cap is being put in place to ensure that people can get an affordable ride.
UberPOOL is also being extended to the entire metropolitan area; pool service allows users to share rides over common routes and split the cost. On its blog, Uber says it’s pool service can be up to 50 percent cheaper than UberX.
Uber recommends running a fare estimate before riding, and advises that wait times may be longer than usual due to the anticipated high demand.
“We’re working around the clock to ensure that we can keep D.C. moving,” says Washington.
The ride-sharing company also hopes to sign-up new customers among the thousands of Metro riders who can’t catch a train because of the rail system’s 24-hour safety shutdown.
In its bid to win new riders, Uber is offering new users $25 off on their first ride by entering the promo code METRODC.
Lyft is also seeking to bring in new passengers, offering $20 off for first riders with the promo code METROHELP during the Metro shutdown.
