Uber, Lyft prepare for busy New Year's Eve
SAN FRANCISCO -- From Uber and Lyft to good old taxicabs, there are a lot of ways to get around this New Year's Eve. But some could cost you a whole lot more than normal.
Pop go the fireworks, and pop goes the champagne. But when it's time to go home, you might not be celebrating.
In years past, taxis were the only game in town. And they cleaned up.
When asked if New Year's Eve is a good moneymaker, one driver said, "It's the best night of the year."
But then came the apps -- Uber and Lyft.
And unlike taxis, they can raise prices when demand is high.
"Uber was skyrocketed about 10 times the cost it should've been," said one Uber user.
Uber calls it surge pricing. Lyft calls it prime time.
"Prime time exists basically as an incentive to get people out on the road," said Lyft driver Mika Sanfilippo. "I mean, when people know there's gonna be a higher percentage of prime time, they'll be like, all right I might as well drive these few hours."
Sanfilippo said she needs that incentive to put up with the New Year's craziness. Along with some beaded bracelets she gives out to passengers, she's brought something else.
"This is a hospital quality vomit bag," she said. "I have a few just in case."
And you may need one after hearing this -- for the first time ever Lyft is raising the cap on prime time rates up to a possible four times the normal fare.
As for Uber, the company will have no cap on surge pricing. They released video showing how riders will have to confirm twice that they've seen the high rates and agree to them. They expect the highest demand between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m.
