Charleston and Morgantown residents can begin taking advantage of on demand transportation today, following Uber's official launch in the state Tuesday afternoon.
During the launch event in Charleston, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin and U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin hailed West Virginia's first Uber ride at Capitol Market and took a scenic route through Charleston to the west side of the Capitol grounds.
Uber is a service that allows anyone with an iPhone or Android device to catch a ride within minutes. When a user hails an Uber, they are able to see an image of the driver, how the driver has been rated by past riders and the projected fare for the trip. No cash changes hands, and riders instead pay with a connected credit card or PayPal account.
In an email sent to customers who requested updates from Uber, the company outlined ride fares for common trips in the Charleston area. From the Amtrak Station to Downtown, the estimated fair is $6. The trip from West Virginia State University to Summers St. is projected at $19. And from Yeager Airport to the Charleston Area Convention Center, the fare should be around $10.
At the event, Tomblin and Manchin spoke briefly, emphasizing the opportunities Uber can bring to the Mountain State.
Manchin highlighted the ease of using Uber and said that he and his wife, Gayle, hail rides often when in Washington, D.C. The senator said that he wasn't sure "if even Uber realizes how much demand and how much need there is" for such a service in West Virginia.
"We're a rural state," Manchin said. "There's not public transportation that's really convenient in many areas, so I see this expanding and seeing, basically, a rural state taking it to another level."
Tomblin focused on the economic impact that the service can have, highlighting the job and tourism increases that are known to follow in Uber's path.
"It is important that we bring in companies like Uber to spur economic growth, new jobs and add tourism opportunities and valuable services for our residents," Tomblin said.
Alisa Bailey, president and CEO of the Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau, reiterated Tomblin's belief that Uber could provide a boost to West Virginia tourism. She said the CVB spends most of their time booking meetings and conventions in Charleston, and out-of-state attendees have been disappointed about Uber's lack of availability in the past.
The ride-hailing service is so popular, she said, because it's very simple to hail an Uber from a smartphone.
"People like that easy transportation. They like to be able to hail from their phone," she said. "If you can't do it from your phone, forget it."
Tom Hayes, Uber general manger for West Virginia, was on hand at the event and said that hundreds of driver applications have already been submitted. Uber drivers are required to pass a background check, be at least 21 years of age, have car insurance and comply with a zero tolerance drug and alcohol policy.
Though Uber rates vary from city to city, the service can be a lucrative business for some drivers. SherpaShare, a service that tracks income and expenses associated with ride-hailing services, reported that Uber drivers make, on average, $15.97 per ride.
For more information on what it takes to become an Uber driver, visit https://www.uber.com/driver-jobs.
The potential for expansion to other cities is there, Hayes said, although Uber wants to see how Charleston and Morgantown operate before targeting other areas. The company's hope, he said, is that the service can reach a broader and broader West Virginia audience in the future.
Reach Jared Casto at jared.casto@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-4832 or follow @JaredCasto on Twitter.