Major ride-hailing operators in the United States and Canada are now suspending their operations to aid in the mitigation of the spread of the novel coronavirus. Uber and Lyft made separate announcements this week. Uber stated that it will be suspending its Uber Pool service in the US and Canada, while Lyft announced that its operations in "all markets" will be suspended.
Uber Pool is currently one of the cheapest modes of transportation in the US, given that it matches up to three riders for one vehicle. However, the proximity of total strangers in one vehicle goes against all precautionary regulations to mitigate the spread of the epidemic.
In cities such as San Francisco, which have implemented a lockdown, ride-hailing services are still be allowed to serving health care workers and other emergency service providers. Cities such as New York have already issued executive orders to ban carpool trips and restricting ride-hailing trips to only one customer per ride.
The decision to suspend the service comes right after the company expanded its paid sick leave policy for its drivers. The move was preceded by the company's announcement that it would be suspending accounts of riders and drivers who have been infected by the virus to stop them infecting other people.
The move will likely be a welcomed one by its drivers as most have expressed concerns about possibly coming into contact with those who are infected with the virus. Apart from Uber Pool, the company's other services, including its Uber X, Uber Black, and Uber Eats services, will still be operational until further notice.
Uber Rides and Platform senior vice-president, Andrew Macdonald, mentioned in a statement that the goal of the company's new policy is to help the country flatten the curve of the spread in the cities where it operates. Through the action, the company hopes to eventually help the healthcare system manage the infection.
Macdonald added that the company is working closely with local leaders to help discourage non-essential travel. Uber is reportedly considering the temporary shutdown of its services in other markets, even those without positive cases of the coronavirus.
The ride-hailing firm had been under immense pressure from drivers groups and politicians to suspend its ride pooling operations as part of the social distancing mandate made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Concerned drivers had stated that packing five strangers inside one vehicle is a very bad idea given the current situation.
