Google has a new carpool app that aims to make life easier for commuters. Using Waze’s navigation system, the WazeRider app will learn the routes most commonly taken and enable users looking for a ride to pair up.
What makes the app similar to Uber is that ride-seeking commuters pay their ride givers a small fee. The app, which was tested in Tel Aviv last year, is currently available in the greater San Francisco area.
Using the service requires the use of two apps: Waze and WazeRider. Drivers use Waze to pick up passengers along the way and riders use the WazeRider app to get a ride from a driver going in the same direction.
“For years, Waze has established a trusted community of drivers, with millions of Wazers helping each other beat traffic on the fastest routes,” said the app’s website. “Since so many people are already using Waze to get to work, why not help a fellow commuter heading in the same direction? That’s what Waze Carpool is all about. It’s never been easier to give a ride and get that gas money - hello, carpool lane!”
The app won’t be a primary source of income like Uber and Lyft, as the goal of the nominal fee is to “help cover the cost of driving.” Drivers will be unable to turn a profit, as they will be limited to two rides a day. “Riders and drivers share the cost of gas for the trip,” reads the app’s FAQ. “Ride payment is set in advance and money is transferred from riders to drivers automatically.”
