Riding with Uber during COVID-19

Tips for getting around with Uber 

As cities begin to reopen and people start moving again, Uber is proceeding with caution and safety top of mind. While exercising social distancing is a must, we will all have a role to play to help each other stay healthy when traveling. See some tips below on traveling with Uber

1. Travelling terms: Practising social distancing remains critical to curb the spread of the coronavirus. That’s why non-essential traveling has been strongly discouraged. With the relaxation of travel and time restrictions on all road-based public transport modes, for those who do have to leave the house, Uber is available to take you where you need to go. Traveling in an Uber or any private vehicle has been limited to 50% capacity and sitting at the back seat of the vehicle to limit close contact is crucial to limit the spread.
2. Mask : All Uber riders, drivers and couriers will be required to wear a mask or face covering when taking a trip. As part of a new in-app safety checklist, before drivers and couriers go online, they will be asked to take a selfie to verify they are wearing a mask or face covering using new object recognition technology. Any driver or courier who is not wearing a mask or other face covering will not be able to go online.
3. Check list ready: Uber has also introduced a Safety Checklist which will require drivers to confirm that they’ve taken additional safety measures such as regularly sanitising their car and making hand sanitizer available for their riders. While riders will be required to take safety precautions like washing their hands before getting in the car, sitting in the backseat and opening windows for ventilation.
4. New feedback system: We have added new options for feedback in the Uber app, including if a rider or driver is not wearing a mask. Anyone who is repeatedly flagged for violating our new safety policies risks losing access to Uber’s apps.
5. Get an extra hand: Vulnerable populations, including the elderly and those with chronic health conditions, have been encouraged to remain at home. However, if travel is unavoidable, as an extra helping hand, senior citizens and those with special needs have the option of getting around with Uber Assist which is specifically designed to assist those with access needs to move around with ease.
6. Delivery at your doorstep: Uber Eats remains available so you can still order your favourite food or essentials via the app daily, with the option of contactless delivery. You can also skip the bottle store run and let the drinks come to you! And for those that would rather pickup their order, can order as usual through the app, and then collect it in-store once it’s ready.

About Uber

Uber’s mission is to help people get a ride at the push of a button – everywhere and for everyone. We started in 2009 to solve a simple problem – how do you get a ride at the touch of a button? With over 10 billion trips later, we’ve started tackling an even greater challenge: reducing congestion and pollution in our cities by getting more people into fewer cars.

Uber is available in sixteen cities in Sub-Saharan Africa (Cape Town, Durban, Joburg, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth, East London, Nairobi, Mombasa, Lagos, Abuja, Benin City, Abidjan Kampala, Accra, Kumasi and Dar es Salaam). Overall, the Uber network is available in over 10 000 cities in over 65 countries. To request a ride, users must download the free application for Android, iPhone, Blackberry 7, or register for Uber at www.uber.com/go. For questions visit www.uber.com