So Where Exactly are All Those Uber Cars We Were Expecting?
Uber launched service in the Hudson Valley this morning, but finding a ride may not be as easy we've hoped; at least not yet.
Ride sharing services like Lyft and Uber have finally received permission to operate in the Hudson Valley. With just the click of an app, travelers will now be able to easily find a ride around town at an affordable price. But if you were expecting instant pickups like the ones you are used to in big cities, you may be a little disappointed.
After opening the Uber app this morning it was clear that there aren't nearly as many cars available here as there are in other areas where the service has already been established. In Orange County the wait for an Uber from the Five Corners in Vails Gate was over 12 minutes. From quickly looking at the map there were only about three cars in the area that were logged into the service, with two of them camped out at Stewart International Airport.
In Dutchess County the story was even worse. Just before lunch time the map only showed two cars in the area, with one picking up a customer near the Poughkeepsie Galleria and the other circling around near Old Hopewell Road.
It's expected that drivers will begin to rapidly increase as more and more Hudson Valley users discover the service. Those who waited until today to decide to be an Uber driver will need to sit tight until their application is accepted to start driving. Right now, drivers who applied in advance or ones who have been driving in areas where Uber has already been established are the only ones on the road.
Have you tried out Uber or Lyft in the Hudson Valley yet? We'd love to hear about your experience.