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RideGuru – A New Rideshare Initiative

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rg1We are excited to announce that the groundbreaking rideshare fare comparison calculator, RideGuru, which was originally hosted on TaxiFareFinder.com was officially released this morning as an independent website at Ride.Guru.

While the sites main attraction is its ability to compare rideshare fares across thousands of cities for a vast number of rideshare companies, it is also a place for riders, drivers, and travelers to come together.

To kick-start Ride.Guru’s community, the RideGuru team built a Q&A platform called, “Ask a Guru”. “Ask a Guru” connects rideshare drivers and riders not only with each other, but also with industry experts. Questions that are submitted will be answered by real insiders, such as actual rideshare drivers and representatives.  RideGuru has even partnered with Harry Campbell, otherwise known as “The Rideshare Guy”, who will be directly interacting with the visitors!

For travelers, RideGuru is providing a wealth of knowledge not only related to ridesharing but also in regards to general travel tips and tricks. Through Ride Guru’s city spotlights, users can find city specific travel information on multiple cities worldwide. Additionally, through RideGuru’s Instagram, Newsroom, and Newsletter, visitors can get ideas on where to travel next and can engage with one another on the best ways to get from point A to point B.

RideGuru is place of pure transparency within the rideshare marketplace. Curious which rideshare company is cheapest, RideGuru can show you. Interested in which rideshare company pays back the most to their drivers, RideGuru will let you know. Have a question, RideGuru will make sure to provide you with an unbiased answer. Check it out, join the community, and happy ride-hailing!

To view RideGuru’s Press Release please click here.

 

To view a Text Only Press Release please see below.

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RideGuru – A New Rideshare Initiative

BOSTON, MA,  September 20, 2016

Travelers rejoice! The ability to easily compare ridehail options such as Uber and Lyft is now available. Unleashed, LLC, the Boston-based technology company best known for TaxiFareFinder, officially released their newest site and initiative, RideGuru. RideGuru brings transparency to the rideshare and ridehail markets, something many riders and drivers have been seeking.

RideGuru’s primary feature is its comparison fare calculator. When to and from locations are entered, RideGuru will calculate and display fare estimates for a multitude of ride options, enabling comparison shopping for the end users.  It is able to provide estimates for all possible rideshare and taxi options for a given trip, complete with a breakdown of the potential fares.  Each estimate gets a “fare card”, and users can narrow down the cards by using filters, e.g. specifying the number of passengers, selecting luxury vs. economy experience, etc.

There are other calculators in the market that have attempted to provide similar comparative information, but they are being shut down by Uber and Lyft for violating their API terms of service. RideGuru is different. Using the same trusted technology and algorithm that the company created for TaxiFareFinder.com, RideGuru can derive fare estimates without the use of external APIs.  This means that it is not reliant on rideshare companies providing the estimates.  To provide accurate and trustworthy fares, RideGuru keeps a database of thousands of rates, and the algorithm is continuously optimized by real fares provided by users and drivers.  This ensures RideGuru’s estimates are as accurate as possible.

Ippei Takahashi, the CEO/President of Unleashed, LLC, states, “The innovation that rideshare and ridehail companies brought to the market is very impressive.  While many welcome its emergence, it is also disruptive in a way, as it forced fast transitions to the market and left a lot of uncertainty and confusion among the consumers.  For example, the fare and payout structures can be complex, and the rules and regulations can be vague.  Our mission is to bring transparency to the market by providing useful tools and informative resources, and through connecting people with rideshare experts.”

RideGuru is truly making waves as the Expedia of ride-hailing services.  It supports a vast number of major rideshare companies, such as Uber, Lyft, Curb, Ola, Didi Kauidi, taxis and more, and the list extends across over 70 countries.

In order to provide unfiltered information and industry knowledge to the public, RideGuru is hosting a Q&A platform called, “Ask a Guru.”  Rideshare consumers will be connected with industry experts and questions will be answered by real insiders, such as drivers, travel authorities, and representatives from service providers.  RideGuru has partnered with Harry Campbell, also known as “The Rideshare Guy” who will be directly interacting with the visitors. Harry is eager to spread his expertise through RideGuru, stating, “My goal is to answer any question you might have about the world of rideshare.  Whether you’re an experienced veteran of Uber or just heard about it for the first time today, I’m here to help!”

Furthermore, once a user finds their desired ride, they can simply sign up and/or hail the car straight from the site for most of the ridehail services.  The user, if interested, can also view the driver take-home pay as a part of the fare breakdown.  This feature gives the public an idea of how much is going to the driver and how much is going to the ridehail companies.

RideGuru strives to become a community and platform for all information pertaining to the ridehailing industry. With today’s release of its fare calculator as well as the Ask a Guru forum, RideGuru will start equipping the public with all the information they need to navigate this innovative but often confusing market.

 

About Unleashed, LLC

Unleashed, LLC is a Boston-based technology company that specializes in creating websites and smartphone applications to provide users with the information they need for daily decisions. The company is best known for creating the popular travel site TaxiFareFinder.com. TaxiFareFinder, released in 2007, is an online resource for all things related to taxis and rideshares. TaxiFareFinder is best recognized for its groundbreaking, location based, taxi and rideshare fare calculators. With taxi and rideshare rates for more than 2,000 international locations, TaxiFareFinder is the proven, trusted trip companion for travelers around the world.

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Curb Fare Finder – Estimate the Cost of Your Curb Ride!

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Do you wish you could hail a traditional taxi easily through an app? Enter CURB.

CURB, formerly Taxi Magic, is an on-demand car service that hails existing traditional taxis through the CURB smartphone app. Unlike other rideshare companies, such as Uber and Lyft, which hail a peer-driven car, the CURB app will hail a traditional licensed taxi or professional for hire car. Their local partners (taxi companies and private for hire cars) set the fares, so prices will vary depending on location.

Luckily, the team here at TaxiFareFinder has created CurbFareFinder.com to help you easily find the cost of a CURB ride in your city. When you first visit CurbFareFinder, you will notice two blank fields, your “starting location” and “ending location”. This is where you will enter your desired CURB trip details, keep in mind that CURB is currently only supported in the U.S. and Vancouver, Canada.

Pro Tip: When you enter your starting and ending locations you can use addresses, city names, landmarks, business names, zip codes, and even coordinates (latitude and longitude).

Once you have entered your starting and ending locations, CurbFareFinder will estimate your Curb fare and even breakdown each individual fee for you!

After you have searched for your fare and found an estimate you like, simply click on the “Request Curb” to start your CURB journey!

Have you tried CurbFareFinder yet? Let us know your thoughts below. Happy Fare Finding!

Introducing UberFareFinder, LyftFareFinder, and CurbFareFinder!

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The TaxiFareFinder team is extremely excited to announce the release of our three new rideshare based websites, UberFareFinder.com, LyftFareFinder.com, and CurbFareFinder.com. Each of these three new websites has been created with the same standards that we hold for TaxiFareFinder and have proven to give highly accurate fare estimates for the respective rideshare companies that they represent. On top of being able to give precise fare estimates that include real-time surge and prime time pricing, users are also able to hail their desired rideshare car directly from each Fare Finder website. Once a visitor finds a ride estimate he or she likes they can simply click on a “Request Service” button, where they will be taken directly to the designated rideshare companies’ website or mobile app to dispatch a car without entering any additional information!

We are thrilled to expand our technology into the rideshare space and we hope this family of Fare Finder calculators will help to bring transparency to the taxi and rideshare industry as well as help our fans to find the best deal. Try out the new Fare Finders today to learn which rideshare company is the best option for you.

To view the Press Release please click here.

 

To view a Text Only Press Release please see below.

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TAXIFAREFINDER EXTENDS FARE ESTIMATES TO UBER, LYFT, AND CURB

TaxiFareFinder.com, the leader in publishing taxi rates and information, has been a longtime favorite of travelers for their fare estimating tool. Now, the developer has extended its fare estimation to rideshare services, Uber, Lyft, and Curb. They are offered as three different websites, UberFareFinder.com, LyftFareFinder.com, and CurbFareFinder.com.

Boston, Massachusetts – March 15th, 2016 – Unleashed, LLC, the Boston based technology company best known for TaxiFareFinder.com, announced today the release of three rideshare based websites, UberFareFinder.com, LyftFareFinder.com, and CurbFareFinder.com. Each website is designed to introduce users to the respective rideshare services, rates, and fare estimates in a quick and user-friendly way.

Unleashed, LLC president Ippei Takahashi states, “With accurate fare estimates for Uber, Lyft, and Curb, our team at Unleashed hopes to bring further transparency to the travel industry.  It is our goal to equip travelers, so they can be informed, plan accordingly, and travel safely.”

The fare calculation support extends internationally and to virtually all cities Uber, Lyft, and Curb operate in. The sites are also capable of producing estimates for each companies’ different rides and services, such as varying vehicle types.

In order to get a fare estimate, users simply need to enter their “origin” and “destination” locations. The users can enter not only addresses, but also city names, landmarks, business names, zip codes, and coordinates (latitude and longitude). If the users do not have the exact location, the page can suggest locations through auto-completing fields.

For the benefit of those who immediately need a ride, the fare estimates displayed are in real-time, even taking into account Uber’s surge pricing and Lyft’s prime time rates. These warnings enable users to avoid unforeseen charges, choose the best ride option available, and be informed of the cost they will incur.

Once users have found an estimate and a service they are satisfied with, they can click on a “Request Service” button, where they will be taken directly to the designated rideshare companies’ website or mobile app to dispatch a car without entering any additional information.

The new Uber, Lyft, and Curb Fare Finder calculators will be an invaluable feature for those needing to research the cost of a trip before leaving home, or for those needing to verify their fare after the fact.

 

About Unleashed, LLC

Unleashed, LLC is a Boston based technology company that specializes in creating websites and smartphone applications to provide users with the information they need for daily decisions. The company is best known for creating the popular travel site TaxiFareFinder.com.  TaxiFareFinder, released in 2007, is an online resource for all things related to taxis and rideshares. TaxiFareFinder is best recognized for its groundbreaking, location based, taxi and rideshare fare calculators. With taxi and rideshare rates for more than 2,000 international locations, TaxiFareFinder is the proven, trusted trip companion for travelers around the world.

Top 5 Items Rideshare Drivers Should Have In Their Car

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Driving for ride-share companies like Uber, Lyft or one of the smaller services can be an excellent way to earn income, meet people, provide a needed service and allows you to be an independent boss. For the skilled, knowledgeable driver, there is no better side business. One common belief is that all you need as a ride-share driver is a reliable car and smartphone. However, the best drivers want to make their riders comfortable and plan for those “what if” scenarios. Consider having these five items in your car to make your driving experience as smooth as possible.

• A Cord Collection — Think about how important your smartphone is to you. Your riders likely feel the same way. Providing a way for passengers to charge (common) smartphones is key. An aux cord is another excellent investment. You can listen to music or directions through your phone. This is especially important in areas where there are not many great radio stations available. It is up to you to decide if you want to allow passengers to choose some of the music; just remember, listening to someone else’s music can get quite distracting, so don’t risk anyone’s safety.

• Trunk Caddy — When you’re transporting passengers, you will likely be transporting a large amount of objects, too. Don’t allow your riders’ belongings to shift around in the trunk or the back of your SUV with no protection in place. A simple trunk caddy can keep your passengers’ luggage, bags or other belongings organized — and even provide space for your items, too. These come in many different styles and sizes; there is certain to be a design that will fit with your vehicle style — from a cargo net design to a complicated caddy with multiple compartments.

• Vomit Bags or Can — This may seem silly, but if you do “bar runs” it’s a must-have! Vomit bags will help protect your vehicle just in case a passenger had a bit too much to drink. Even if you avoid picking up passengers who look like they may be trouble, it’s a good idea to be prepared — sometimes accidents happen when they are least expected.

• Water — Bottled water isn’t a must, but it is certainly a nice touch. Providing cold bottled water (just by using a cooler) is one of the best things you can do for passengers. Plus, you will have water handy to keep yourself hydrated during those long shifts, too.

• Your Card — Depending on which service you drive for, this may be something you can order from the company or something you can print yourself. The idea is that you want your best passengers to return again and again! Be sure to keep a card handy — you want to be remembered. Some of the companies also offer referral cards for recruiting new drivers, which can allow you to gain an additional source of income.

If you want to get high ratings and succeed in a market that is becoming crowded in some areas, it is worth investing in these items and perhaps a few others — to help you stand out from other drivers. After all, you know you are an awesome driver, so why not show your passengers you are by providing the little details? One great thing about being a ride-share driver is that purchasing these items may be tax deductible (talk to your accountant for details, of course). With that in mind, these products could become quite affordable, as well as a great investment in your ride-share business.

 

Author Bio: Kimberly Quinones VP of Sales Midwest:

As Vice President of Sales in the Midwest, Kim oversees all aspects of our sales, service, and customer retention programs for Illinois Vehicle Auto Insurance.  Her market stretches from the far north, west and south suburbs of Chicago, to Indianapolis. Illinois Vehicle Auto Insurance does not cover rideshare drivers.

Which Service is Cheapest?

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New types of transportation options seem to be popping up daily, each promising to be the cheapest and best way to get around your city. Rideshare services like Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar are now viable, established options in the majority of larger cities in the United States. To help you determine which rideshare service can actually be your cheapest choice, we used RideGuru to calculate the cost of a consistent 4-5 mile ride in ten major US cities. The infographic below shows the service with the lowest price for the specified distance and the top two runner-up companies. Now you can know how your chosen rideshare service compares and ranks from a price perspective.

Variable factors such as surge pricing, inclement weather, and heavy traffic are not taken into consideration in the graph below. For simplicity, traditional taxis were not included in this comparison.

 

How to Use RideShare Apps (Video)

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New to rideshares? Not sure how to sign up and call one? TaxiFareFinder created this helpful video to show you how to download the app, sign up, and start using rideshares like Uber and Lyft. Happy Traveling!

For more information on rideshares, make sure to check out our helpful Rideshare Guides. (http://www.taxifarefinder.com/rideguru)

How to Take a Rideshare

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Rideshare services like Uber, Lyft, and others are a growing trend and constantly making headlines. However, the concept of rideshare services is still new and unclear for many riders out there. TaxiFareFinder has created a basic, generic explanation of how to take advantage of these new service offerings; our walk-through of how to take a rideshare applies to all services out there, although the app details and interface may differ. Ride on!

  1. Download chosen rideshare app from the app store.
  2. Create an account. Enter your email address, phone number, and credit or debit card information. Be sure to enable location services when the option appears, as this will allow for more accurate GPS capabilities when requesting a ride.
  3. Fill in the details. Once you have completed account creation, you are ready to take your first ride. You will need to set your pickup location; an address will be auto-populated based on your GPS location but double check to make sure that it is accurate. You can input an address manually if it is incorrect. Next, you will need to choose which level of service you want. For most apps, you are able to choose different types of services based on vehicle type, size, and cost. For example, Uber offers several options including: low-cost uberX, larger-vehicle uberXL, and premium Black Car.
  4. Request your ride. Once you submit your request, a nearby driver is notified of your pickup location. A time estimate will be provided and you will be able to watch your driver arrive utilizing their GPS location. All details surrounding your driver and ride will be provided, including: driver photo, contact information, vehicle make, and license plate number.
  5. Enter your end destination. Input the address of your final destination while you wait for your ride to arrive. This will save time and provide a route ahead of time.
  6. Enjoy your ride. Locate your ride and hop in the vehicle. The GPS will provide the driver with a route, but you are able to suggest a better way if you wish to. Once you arrive at your destination, simply exit the vehicle. You do not need to pay the driver or tip; cost will be taken out of your debit or credit card automatically. Expect to receive a receipt via email with a breakdown of the ride, including fare and route explanation.
  7. Rate your experience. You will be prompted to rate your driver after each ride for most rideshare services. If you had a bad experience, you can express this using the star rating system and also by writing a note to the company. Most companies take complaints very seriously and will respond quickly to any negative feedback.

A few notes for those unfamiliar with rideshare apps.

Surge pricing is a term necessary to understand, as this could seriously hurt your wallet. At times of high demand or severe weather conditions, fares are increased to provide an incentive for more drivers to get on the road. The rideshare app will notify you of the surge when you request a ride. The total cost of your ride will be increased by a multiple or a percentage of your total fare, depending on the app. For example, Uber uses multipliers, 2.5x the normal fare, while Lyft uses percentages, 150% of your fare.  You can choose to wait out the time of high demand, when fares return to normal, non-surge pricing, or choose to pay the inflated price.

Ride Cancellations have fees associated unless completed in a defined timeframe. Although it varies from app to app, the cancellation timeframe for most rideshare services is within five minutes of requesting.  If the ride is not cancelled within this timeframe, a fee starting at $5 will be taken directly out of your account on file. However, if the driver gets lost or exceeds the original arrival timeframe, you may also cancel without repercussions.

Cash transactions should never occur when using a rideshare service. It feels strange to not leave a tip, as this has been customary with taxi rides, but never feel pressured to leave a tip. Driver compensation is factored into the fee that is withdrawn directly from your account on file.