UberX Share brings carpooling back to NYC, LA, Chicago, and six other cities

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

In Miami, Florida, in November of last year, the company launched a pilot of its new ride sharing service. New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Phoenix, San Diego, Portland, Indianapolis, and Pittsburgh are all where shared rides have returned. The outbreak of the coronaviruses in March 2020 halted the ride-sharing service's pool service.

Over the last few months, shared rides have resumed in a number of cities. The feature will only match riders headed in the same direction and will add no more than eight minutes to your trip's arrival time.

Image: Uber

The main difference between the pilot program and the car sharing service is that the pilot program has a less strict approach to COVID-19 precautions. It is possible to request up to two seats in a vehicle, but only for a single person at a time. If you are traveling with friends, the company wants you to use the cheaper version of the ride-sharing service.

The requirement for mask-wearing is optional but recommended for all riders and drivers. You don't have to sit in the back seat anymore, but only use the front seat if you need it.

You will only be matched with one other passenger per trip with a discount upfront for choosing the service and an additional discount of up to 20 percent if another rider joins. This summer, the service is expected to expand to more areas.