Uber cab offers free taxi rides to polls
By Shannon HeffernanUber cab offers free taxi rides to polls
By Shannon HeffernanBusinesses across Chicago are offering incentives to vote such as free desserts or drinks if you bring in a voting receipt. But a phone app is actually getting people to the polls for free.
The Uber phone app lets people order taxis and car services. And on Election Day Tuesday, anyone going to or leaving a polling place can use their app to get a free ride – as long as the ride doesn’t exceed $20.12.
One of the taxi drivers giving the rides, Bek Azimov, says he had a very busy morning. Almost all his fares were to polling places.
Azimov said most of his customers were excited and chatty about who they voted for, but he tried not to offer his opinion.
“Everyone has different ideas, so I try to just listen to my customers,” he said.
Azimov has a green card, but is not a citizen, and so was unable to vote himself. But he said he would vote if he could.
For now, he said, his civic duty is to get people to the polls.
To learn more about getting a ride to your polling site, visit Uber’s blog.