MANYRides

Pick the right option for each trip

Each way of getting around suits some trips better than others. A common pattern is transit for the daily commute, rideshare or a taxi for late nights and heavy bags, and an hourly car share for the big grocery run. The main options:

• Rideshare apps: door-to-door on short notice, with prices that rise at busy times.
• Taxis: regulated fares, street hails and cab stands in many cities, and sometimes a flat airport fare.
• Buses and trains: usually the cheapest per trip, especially with a pass.
• Carpools and vanpools: shared commutes, often organized or subsidized through employers and transit agencies.
• Bike and scooter share: quick for short hops, usually priced by the minute.
• Hourly car share: a car for errands, often with fuel and insurance included, though deductibles vary.

Rideshare safety, from pickup to drop-off

Wait indoors or somewhere well lit until the app shows the car has arrived. Before you open the door, match three things against the app: the license plate, the make and color of the car, and the driver’s photo. Then ask, “Who are you here to pick up?” and let the driver say your name rather than offering it. Legitimate rideshare drivers don’t solicit passengers on the street, so never accept a ride you didn’t request in the app.

Habits that help on every trip:

• Sit in the back seat, which gives you space and a door on either side, and buckle up.
• Share your trip status with a friend so someone can follow your route in real time.
• Know where the app’s emergency button is; it can connect you to 911 and share your location.
• Use a PIN or ride-verification feature where the app has one.
• Follow the route on your own map, and speak up if it changes without explanation.

What rides really cost

Rideshare prices climb when demand does, so the same trip can cost far more after a concert, at rush hour or in a storm. Waiting 10 or 15 minutes, or walking a few blocks away from the crowd, often brings the price down, and checking a second app takes seconds. Airports usually add pickup and drop-off fees, and taxis in some cities charge a flat fare between the airport and downtown.

Tips aren’t built into rideshare fares; you can add one in the app after the trip, and tipping taxi drivers is customary in the United States. For regular trips, compare a pass with single fares. For example, if a single fare is $3 and a monthly pass costs $120, the pass pays for itself after 40 rides, about 20 workdays of round trips.

Accessible rides and service animals

Major rideshare apps have wheelchair-accessible vehicle options in some cities, and many taxi fleets include accessible cabs, but availability varies, so check before you depend on them. Transit agencies that run fixed-route buses must also provide ADA paratransit, a shared ride service for people whose disability prevents them from using regular buses, for trips that begin and end within three-quarters of a mile of those routes.

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, taxi drivers must allow service animals and can’t refuse the ride or charge extra because of one. The U.S. Justice Department says the law covers rideshare companies too, and the major apps require their drivers to accept service animals. A service animal is an animal, usually a dog, trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability; emotional support animals don’t qualify under the ADA. If a driver refuses, report it to the app or the local taxi regulator.

Commuting without a car

If you ride transit to work most days, a weekly or monthly pass usually beats single fares, and some systems cap fares automatically once you have paid the price of a pass with the same card or phone. Many employers provide pre-tax commuter benefits, which let you pay for transit and vanpools from your paycheck before federal income and payroll taxes, up to a monthly limit the IRS adjusts each year. Some cities require larger employers to provide them.

Ask your employer or regional transit agency about vanpool programs and guaranteed ride home programs, which cover an occasional emergency trip home for people who don’t drive to work.

Scooter and bike share safety

Most share programs don’t supply helmets, so bring your own; head injuries are among the most common serious injuries on both bikes and scooters. Before you ride, check the brakes, lights, tires and throttle, and end the ride if anything feels wrong.

Local rules vary widely. Many cities ban scooters on sidewalks, set speed limits, require lights at night or restrict where you can park, and programs usually set a minimum rider age. Ride with traffic, use bike lanes where they exist, and park only where the app allows so you don’t block sidewalks or ramps.

Plan late-night trips before you go out

Transit thins out late at night, and some lines stop entirely. Before you leave, check the last train or bus home, any overnight service, and a backup option. A few habits help:

• Keep your phone charged, and carry a small battery pack on long nights.
• Agree with friends on how everyone is getting home before the night starts.
• Request rides from inside a venue or a busy, well-lit spot, not a dark side street.
• Use licensed taxis from official stands, and turn down unofficial drivers offering rides.
• Carry a payment backup, such as a second card or some cash, in case an app or card fails.