We’ve all heard the horror stories. Five-hundred-dollar Uber fares, 9.9-times price multipliers — and people kicking off the New Year in devastating fashion: with empty pockets. It’s a completely avoidable scenario, but it’s become etched in holiday lore by stories like this one about the guy who paid $800 for a trip home on Uber. Here’s how to avoid paying a month’s rent in Uber fare this time around.
First, keep in mind the bevy of transportation options available in the region: Miller Lite is sponsoring free Metro rides (bus and rail) from 12 to 3 a.m. on New Year’s Day. Some D.C. Circulator routes are running extended hours, and the annual holiday SoberRide program is offering rides from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. all weekend to keep drunk drivers off the roads. Dr. Gridlock has the details below:
But if Uber and Lyft end up your preferred option — as they will be for millions across the country — there are a few precautions you can take to avoid getting slammed. Uber says it expects to provide 15 million trips worldwide this New Year’s Eve, three times as many as last year, so we know it’ll come in handy for some of you.
Learn your fare upfront
In recent months, Uber has activated a feature known as “upfront fares,” which is aimed at preventing the nightmare scenario faced by so many on New Year’s Day. Passengers see the total cost of their rides before they request — so they aren’t blindsided by the bill. There’s “no math, and no surprises,” Uber says, but this also takes away some of the blame when customers report back that they were gouged the night before. Lyft has activated upfront pricing in some cities, but not D.C., according to a spokeswoman. But riders can always obtain their “Prime Time” surge pricing percentage in the app, so they know what to expect. Don’t ride without knowing.
Take pooled rides for a cheaper fare
UberPOOL and Lyft Line are the ride-hailing companies’ lower-cost ride-splitting options. Uber’s service costs up to 70 percent less in the D.C. region, and Lyft is offering similarly cheap fares during SafeTrack, Metro’s year-long rehabilitation program. Rides might take longer, and seats are sure to be filled, but it’ll be worth it when you realize you didn’t pay the equivalent of D.C.-to-Miami airfare to get from Dupont Circle to Brookland.
Know when to ride
Uber says to expect the highest fares between midnight and 3 a.m. The company urges passengers to examine prices before getting in their ride — especially during these hours. Luckily, these are the hours Metro is running extended service. So if you’re near a Metro station (or bus), and commuting somewhere that’s Metro-accessible, it’s a no-brainer.
Expect commuter mayhem in these places:
Here’s a list of Uber’s top destinations in the region last New Year’s Eve (in no particular order), provided by a spokesman:
U Street Music Hall, Clarendon Ballroom, Tenley Bar and Grill, Echostage, the Newseum, Andrew Mellon Auditorium, Rock and Roll Hotel, Red Derby, Local 16, Marvin, Nellie’s, El Centro, Town Danceboutique, 930 Club, the W Hotel and Town Hall. Adams Morgan and National Harbor were popular throughout the night, according to the company. Lyft says Shaw, 14th Street, Georgetown and Dupont Circle tend to be its most popular destinations.
Safe commuting, and be sure to write back with any nightmare fare episodes. Hopefully there will be nothing to report this year, but something tells us we’ll be hearing from at least one angry rider on Jan. 1.
(Washington Post owner Jeffrey P. Bezos is an Uber investor.)