Three friends can now share a Uber ride. Here's how to book Uber 'Group Rides'

In a move to enhance affordability and convenience for its users, Uber has announced a new feature, 'Group Rides,' in India. This will allow up to three friends to share a ride to a common destination. The company said that it will help the riders collectively reduce the fare by up to 30 per cent.

Users can easily include their companions in the same Uber ride by sharing ride details through messaging applications. Once joining the trip, friends will have the option to input their personal pickup locations, which will then be integrated into the ride route. Besides the financial advantages for riders, the company said that the primary goal of this feature is to alleviate road congestion, particularly when groups of friends, colleagues, or family members are traveling together to the same place.

How to Book a Group Uber Ride

* Open the updated Uber app on your smartphone
* Navigate to the 'Services' page and touch on Group rides.
*Enter the destination.
* Once completed, it will prompt you to invite friends to the ride
* After that, a link with the group ride details will be given to your selected contacts
* Following that, your buddies must add their separate stops
* After which a driver will be assigned for the ride and the journey will begin.

Expressing his thoughts on the introduction of this new facet, Nitish Bhushan, Uber India's Director of Central Operations, told TOI, "Customer-centric innovation remains at the core of our endeavors, and we are persistently exploring avenues to make travel more budget-friendly and seamless. With Group Rides, we're providing customers the chance to economize while journeying with familiar faces. In addition to the cost savings and the convenience of arriving at their destination together, riders also contribute positively to the environment by reducing the number of vehicles on the road and promoting ride-sharing."

The company, however, clarified that the earnings of drivers will remain unaffected by this feature. They will continue to receive the same compensation based on the route they take, akin to what they would earn from an Uber Go or Uber Premier ride.