WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Uber is making it easier to catch a ride, just in time for a busy night when many people will be using the ride sharing service to get to and from New Year's celebrations.
Users no longer have to download the Uber app. They can simply message Uber in Facebook Messenger and order a ride by pressing on a car icon that shows up.
New Year's is expected to bring a very busy night for the ride sharing service. With rides in high demand, rates will go up.
The app uses surge pricing during busy times to encourage more Uber drivers to get out on the road.
Rides often cost more than double what they usually would when surge pricing is in effect.
To avoid high rates, customers should order rides during non-peak times. According to Uber, prices will be normal until 8:00 Thursday evening. After that, rates will go up. They'll drop again before midnight, and then after the clock strikes 12:00 they'll go back up until about 3:00 in the morning.
In addition to planning to ride during non-peak peak times, Uber users can also choose to split their fare among a group to help make surge pricing more affordable.