New Ride Sharing Service Could Someday Threaten Uber, Lyft

As ride-share services like Uber and Lyft continue to pose a significant threat to traditional cab businesses, consumers may soon have yet another travel option: Jitney. 

Jitney is already operating in the San Francisco Bay area. Its services are much like Uber and Lyft. The difference? Jitney provides “upscale” ride services — think SUV’s and limos — at a lower cost than Uber’s opulent “Black” business. 

The idea is to allow passengers to ride in style, while simultaneously saving them money. 

Ron Reeser of Jitney told Breitbart Texas, “We are a new car-service startup available in San Francisco that aims to take a bite out of Uber’s upscale Black and SUV business by charging a flat 10 percent commission and then passing the savings along to both passengers and drivers.”

Servies like Jitney, Uber, and Lyft allow consumers to seek out rides using smartphone apps. They are then connected with a driver, who picks them up using a personal vehicle. Payments, charged through the apps, are made in cash.

At this time, Jitney has not announced any plans to expand their services to areas outside of the San Francisco area. Such a move would not be unlikely, however, should the company find itself in high demand where it currently operates. So far, Jitney has attracted “hundreds of drivers” in the Bay area. 

While ride-sharing services recently have soared in popularity around the country, officials have struggled to find a balance between supporting innovation and ensuring the safety of consumers. It was only recently that Texas cities, including Houston, gave Uber and Lyft the green light to operate. Not surprisingly, taxi companies remain opposed to Uber and Lyft being recognized in the marketplace. 

Breitbart Texas recently obtained a memo from Houston’s Administration of Regulatory Affairs, addressed to Mayor Annise Parker, which reveals that city taxpayers will shell out almost $600,000 per year to enforce ordinances that apply to Lyft and Uber. Critics complain that the ordinances are unnecessary and only allow for wasteful spending. 

If Jitney is approved in Texas, it would likely be placed under local regulations similar to those dictating Uber and Lyft. 

At this point, it remains to be seen whether or not consumers have a need for a third ride-share option in the Lone Star State.

Follow Kristin Tate on Twitter @KristinBTate.