[cpprototypes]

FTA:

LA Metro opened up the Expo Line, a light rail between downtown LA and Santa Monica, in May as part of its effort to wean people off car ownership. When it began running, Uber ran a promotion for $5 off Pool rides to or from Expo line stations. For ride-hail companies, partnering with public transportation agencies to market themselves as companion services can increase mutual ridership. Kan, Lyft’s LA general manager, said three of the top 10 destinations for Lyft rides are metro stations.

If this trend continues and becomes more common, it has potential to really change transportation in LA. LA Metro is working on expanding the rail lines but there's always the "last mile" problem (not literally 1 mile, but usually last few miles to get/from rail station to destination). UberPool/Lyft Line can be the solution for this and the more people use it, the better solution it becomes.

[honkhonkpants]

Once that last mile has more than about 50 people per hour on it, it makes way more sense to just have bus service.

UberPool is just about the least efficient last mile solution, except for driving and parking your own car.

[aninhumer]

Makes more sense in what way? Sure a bus is more efficient, but it's less convenient.

Getting people to take a train for the majority of their journey is far more efficient than having them drive because the bus doesn't stop outside their door exactly when they want it.

Although I can't help wondering if it would eventually become worthwhile to run a full size bus as a carpool taxi vehicle.

[honkhonkpants]

Uber doesn't stop outside your door exactly when you want it, either. Especially not Uber Pool.

[woodandsteel]

But it is not as if those 50 people with a last-mile problem live all within a few blocks of a single street going in one direction from the transit terminal. The people with last-mile problems, really two or three miles, are scattered all over the place, and for that a ride service works a lot better.