In San Francisco, commuters have another alternative to carpooling services. Google-owned Waze has expanded the pilot program of its new carpooling service.
Folks in the Bay Area can download the Waze app if they wish to sign up as a driver, while commuters who want to take advantage of the new ride-sharing service can download a separate app called Waze Rider.
Google launched an invite-only pilot program in May, and it has slowly opened its doors to the general public since then. The service has been rolling out to users over the last few weeks. The ride-sharing service does not turn in a significant profit for drivers, as they only get paid $0.54 per mile, and riders and drivers are limited to only two rides per day.
In a way, these limitations make it different from its contemporaries Uber and Lyft. Google wants to pair a rider and a driver headed in the same destination to cut traffic, while Uber and Lyft operate more as an expansion of the business model of its individual ride-hailing services. Waze rider seems more like an added convenience feature, not intended as a means for drivers to make bank out of. Its sole purpose it to get more riders sitting beside Waze drivers, so there is less frustration over troublesome traffic and it gives commuters a cost-cutting option instead of more expensive alternatives.
"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 the Waze Carpool pilot is all about," according to Waze.
A reporter from The Wall Street Journal tested the app recently, and was charged $6.30 for the trip but only paid a discounted fare of $3, part of a promotion schtick for the ride-sharing service's launch. The trip was not without a few snags, specifically before the pickup, where Waze failed to display the location of the car to the rider, and during the ride the driver wasn't able to use navigational features of the app. But save for these, it was a hassle-free experience.
Google requires less fuss than what Uber or Lyft does for its drivers. Waze drivers are not subjected to compulsory issuance of their photo IDs or background checks by the company, according to a report by the WSJ. To reiterate, Waze drivers are just common folks who have the navigation app installed, as opposed to being full-time employees. Google simply wants to tap into this already widespread user base and offer them a cheaper way to travel. To become a driver, Waze needs your schedule and your work and home address.
If the pilot program is successful in the Bay Area, Google said that it will expand the ride-sharing service to other cities next.
