Uber is Saving You and Your Friends from Unemployment and Drunk Driving

The popular ride-sharing service Uber now has its sights set on upstate New York, and is even referring to itself as your go-to designated driver in an effort to appeal to college students in the area. Between creating jobs and decreasing the likelihood of drunk driving, moving upstate and onto college campuses is an economic no-brainer.

This new messaging is part of a larger push to convince state legislatures to allow the service beyond New York City borders come 2016. Nothing like using the inebriated college students of America to drive economic growth.

Although the app is popular among Gen Y, Uber is curiously absent on many college campuses, despite the high concentration of drinking and driving incidents.

“About four of five alcohol-related crashes in the state happened outside New York City in 2013, despite the city’s huge share of the population, according to state data,” reported Emma G. Fitzsimmons for the New York Times.

“The counties that include Buffalo and Rochester, where a number of colleges are, also have among the highest number of crashes.”

An Uphill Regulatory Battle

City officials in Evesham, New Jersey are taking action by offering free Uber rides between 9PM and 2AM until January 2.

“If you feel that you’re not capable of driving home, we’re going to make it really, really simple for you,” said Evesham Mayor Randy Brown at a news conference this month.

But Uber continues to fight an uphill regulatory battle. Taxi groups and some New York City officials are steadfast in their belief that Uber treats their employees unfairly and upsets consumer and driver protections, despite the app’s obvious benefits.

“There’s a big need for it here,” said Syracuse Mayor Stephanie A Miner. “I think you’re seeing, particularly among young people, an expectation to have Uber.”

Beyond supplying a needed service, Miner further believes that the competition introduced by ride-sharing companies could prompt local car services to improve while creating new jobs in the area. Free market capitalism at work folks.

Our Take

In addition to being Gen Y’s favorite ride-sharing app, Uber introduces healthy competition into our oversaturated public transit market while creating the jobs we so desperately need.

If you want to learn more or get involved, check out the petition started by Buffalo, NY-based company Rise Collaborative or weigh in on our Facebook page.