Earlier this year, Google’s traffic app Waze joined forces with Lyft, allowing the ride-hailing company to use its navigation technology in an attempt to get riders to their destinations in the fastest manner possible. Now, the tech company is ready to take on the on-demand ride industry all by itself, launching a carpooling service in San Francisco.
The navigation service announced Monday that it would begin testing Waze Carpool in the San Francisco Bay area, which often serves as testing ground and home base for future rivals Uber and Lyft.
But don’t expect to be able to hail a ride with Waze anytime you’d like. The pilot is only open to employees of select companies in the Silicon Valley area.
These employees can download the Waze Rider app and find a Waze driver already heading in the same direction.
Through predetermined routes, Waze Carpool connects riders and drivers with nearly identical commutes based on their home and work addresses, the company says.
The service is only operational during the morning and evening commute, also known as rush hour. Additionally, riders can only use the service twice a day, once to and from work.
“For years, Waze has established a trusted community of drivers, with millions of Wazers helping each other beat traffic on the fastest routes,” the company says on its website seeking drivers. “Since so many people are already using Waze to get to work, why not help a fellow commuter heading in the same direction? That’s what Waze Carpool is all about.”
by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist
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