For the most part, it seems Uber riders and drivers find a happy medium during their jaunts around the District. If a driver is chatty, a rider can hint that they’re not in the mood for conversation, or vice-versa.
But sometimes social cues go unobserved. And sometimes you might not want to hint-hint your way to quiet time.
That’s where Uber’s new “Uber Comfort” feature, which launched in D.C. and 40-plus other cities Tuesday, comes in.
For a higher price, it allows riders to choose “quiet preferred” in their Uber app if they want to ride in silence. They can also choose “happy to chat” or “no preference.”
Uber Comfort also givers riders a little more legroom by requiring certain vehicle types.
However, the added luxuries of Uber Comfort will cost you. Passengers will pay 20 to 40 percent more than an average UberX ride, according to TechCrunch, though it will still be less than an Uber Black or Uber Select vehicle.
The idea is to provide a more polished experience, and drivers have to keep a rating of 4.85 or higher based on at least 250 trips to qualify for Uber Comfort.
The “quiet ride” option has been a somewhat controversial feature since Uber first began testing it on Uber Black and Uber Black SUV premium rides in May. Critics argue that it dehumanizes drivers, treating them like robots that can be turned on and off. Proponents say the feature benefits anxious riders, as well as female passengers who’d prefer to avoid a potentially uncomfortable conversation with a male driver.
In any case, Uber seems to be shifting out of test mode now with a broad launch across most of the U.S., as well as Ottawa.
The rollout includes Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Charleston, Charlotte, Chicago, Connecticut, Dallas, Fresno, Hampton Roads, Houston, Honolulu, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Madison, Memphis, Milwaukee, Nashville, New Jersey, New Orleans, Omaha, Orange County, Ottawa, Palm Springs, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, Raleigh-Durham, Rhode Island, Richmond, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis, Tampa Bay, Tucson, Wichita, and Washington, D.C.
Editor’s Note: American Inno senior editors Jim Dalke and Brent Wistrom contributed to this report.
