Uber wants to pay you $1300 for a month without your car
Vehicle prices, car insurance premiums, repair costs and registration taxes continue to rise and reach record highs just about everywhere. According to a recent study by financial comparator Hardbacon, Montrealers will pay 65% more to own a car in 2024 than they did in 2019. And that's without mentioning traffic congestion.
With this in mind, Uber is launching a pilot project in North America to encourage people to part with their cars. And it's even prepared to pay them.
Called "One Less Car", the initiative will involve 175 participants in seven major U.S. and Canadian cities: Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, Miami, San Francisco, Toronto and Vancouver. For the latter two, up to 40 people will be chosen. Too bad Montreal isn't one of them.
How does it work?
Participants will have to stop using their personal vehicles for four weeks, from July 22 to August 25. In exchange, Uber will give them CAD$1,300 to switch to alternative means of transportation, including walking, cycling, bus, metro, cab services and car-sharing. Lime electric bikes and mopeds, available via Uber, are another option.
By the way, $1,300 a month is exactly what Montreal drivers have to pay on average to own a car, according to the study cited above.
Throughout the challenge, participants will document their experience. At the end, the results and comments will be compiled and analyzed by an independent firm.
The project has already been tried out in Australia, and walking has mainly replaced the car in users' daily lives. Many of them said they wanted to continue doing without their personal vehicle as often as possible.
To our friends in Toronto and Vancouver, the application form is here, and the deadline is July 7.
