From the moment I stepped into my first Uber in NYC, I was confused. My Uber driver immediately began rambling off different rideshare services that I had never heard of before. Sure, I knew Uber and Lyft, but Juno? Via? I think not.
After living here for a few months, I’ve managed to completely grasp the confusing methods of getting around NYC, and I’m here to clarify all of that for you!
Uber
Arguably the most popular of all these services, Uber is reliable and quick (you’ll likely never have to wait more than maybe five minutes tops for a car if you’re in Manhattan).
The greatest downside to Uber in the city is that it’s the most expensive of all the rideshare services, and unlike in the suburb of Minneapolis where I grew up, drivers are quick to give you a low rating for the smallest things, including not tipping or making them wait more than 10 seconds for you when they’re the one that parked a block away from your pickup point.
Uber in NYC does offer UberPool, though, which allows you to bring the cost down of your normal Uber ride by riding with a few other people. If you’re not already signed up for Uber, do so here to get a discount on your first ride, or use the code “evap1241ue”
Lyft
Lyft is incredibly similar to Uber. It’s usually similar in price, except during surge. I’ve noticed that during peak hours, Lyft typically surges far higher than Uber does in NYC.
The upside to Lyft is that, in my experience, the drivers are incredibly friendly. If you aren’t on Lyft yet and use this link to sign up or the code “EVAPHAN,” you’ll get $15 in credit to use on your first Lyft rides!
Juno
This is my favorite of any rideshare service ever. Why? Their discounts are so much better than the initial $10 or $15 you’ll get from Uber or Lyft.
Juno gives you 30% off ALL of your rides for your first two weeks, 20% off for the following two, and 10% off for the two weeks following that when you use this link.
On top of that, Juno is fundamentally less expensive than Uber or Lyft because, unlike Uber, Juno only takes a cut of 10% from the drivers and upcharges the rider only 10%, meaning that drivers make more money and riders get charged less money.
Juno’s probably the least known rideshare service on this list as it only exists in NYC; however, nearly every single Uber driver I’ve encountered in the city also drives for Juno simply because it’s that much more beneficial for them, and customer service with Juno is that much better.
As a rider, your rating is not visible (which I appreciate). However, you can still rate your drivers.
On Juno, if a driver or a rider gives the other a low rating, the app won’t ever show that rider to that driver again, and vice versa. The only downside to Juno is that sometimes I’ve found that I wait a few minutes longer for a Juno car than I do an Uber.
I’ve found that, in general, Juno’s drivers are just as safe and professional as Uber’s (although to be honest, they’re basically the same people anyway). Again, get substantial discounts on Juno for over six weeks by clicking here {some of my rides come down to just $4 even}!
Via
Via is probably the most difficult of the rideshare services to understand. Boasting a $5 flat rate fare anywhere in Manhattan under 125th St (possibly less-than for shorter rides), it sounds too good to be true.
Probably because it is.
The reason Via’s fares are so low is because it operates almost as a small-scale bus service. When you request a Via ride, you’ll likely have to walk a short distance to a Via pickup point, where the Via car will meet you.
You’ll get dropped off at another Via point, which will typically be a short walk from your destination. Along the way, you’ll pick up other riders going a similar path to you.
The benefit to Via is that it’s incredibly similar to UberPool, however much cheaper. The downside is that for some rides, I’ve found that Juno is less expensive. On Juno, I have a car entirely to myself that will pick me up exactly where I am and drop me off exactly where I want to go.
In other instances, taking the subway would accomplish approximately the same thing as taking a Via car.
Overall, it’s a fantastic idea in theory. However, there are a few logistical things that I believe need to be worked out before Via can become a major competitor in NYC transportation.
By using the code “eva8r8,” you can get $10 in ride credit to try Via out!
