Summit's Ride Sharing Partnership With Uber Begins Monday

SUMMIT, NJ-- Today marks the beginning of Summit's "virtual garage" partnership with the ridesharing company, Uber.

Summit residents will be able to take an Uber to and from the train station, instead of having to find parking in the badly congested downtown area.

This township subsidized commuter program is the first of its kind in the nation, although Uber and Summit have partnered together in the past to offer discounted holiday season rides.

The cost is $2 each way, or $4 daily. Monthly, it'll cost commuters no more than the $88 they would have otherwise spent on parking. (If residents continue to buy a parking pass but choose to use Uber instead, the ride will be free.)

In order to get the discounted rate, riders must be traveling to or from the Summit train station, between 5:00 AM and 9:00 PM during the workweek. The discounted rate is limited to two trips per day.

Right now, the partnership is a six-month pilot program, with an early opt-out clause for the township. The pilot program is limited to 100 residents, with hopes for an expansion later on.

“We’ll see if it works. We don’t know. This is why it’s a six month pilot program; there are things that will have to be determined,” Councilman David Naidu said at a September meeting announcing the partnership.

For more information on the program, visit Uber's website or email parking@cityofsummit.org.

Image via radcliffe dacanay, flickr.