Google has been working on a pilot program in California, as the first reports surfaced in May. The program was tested among employees at certain San Francisco companies and it seems that Google has decided to officially launch it.
Google’s ride-sharing program, Waze Rider has just went live in San Francisco, after it was tested for several months. It brings some major differences compared to other ride-sharing applications, like Uber or Lyft.
One of the main advantages is that Waze Rider doesn’t focus on profit. The driver only earns $0.54 per mile, thus allowing the service to avoid being subjected to regulations, which other ride sharing apps are required to follow and have had some issues with. Drivers would need to provide their home and word addresses, as well as information on their schedule.
Riders can only participate in two rides per day
Another striking difference in Waze Rider is that riders can only participate in two rides per day, meaning that the service is mainly designed for traveling from and to school or work. Drivers won’t be able to make much of a profit from using Waze Rider, but they might be able to break with gas costs at the end of the month and fill empty seats in their cars.
A reporter from the Wall Street Journal took a test ride from San Francisco to Oakland and mentioned that the application still has some rather visible bugs. One of the concerns regarded the fact that Waze Rider didn’t allow the driver to use Waze’s navigation service.
Regarding the cost, Waze Rider seems to be much more advantageous compared to other ride-sharing services. The trip cost the driver only $3, while it paid $6.30 to the driver, compared to the estimated $23-30 for an Uber or Lyft ride.
It remains to be seen if Google will make the service available to other countries aside from the US and Israel, but chances are Waze Rider could arrive to other major cities in the US, including New York.
