City wants Uber, Lyft hub tweaks Orlando extends pilot 6 more months to work on wait times, event night challenges

Designating locations for drivers to pick up downtown Orlando patrons has improved traffic flow at last call and led to roads reopening quicker than before.

However, improving wait times and dealing with event nights remains a challenge, according to city and ride-sharing officials.

Orlando has decided to extend its pilot of the two ride-share hubs six more months, allowing more time to improve wayfinding and education for riders, as well as improving wait times and smoothing out traffic patterns.

“Overall, we’re very happy,” said Dominique Greco-Ryan, Orlando’s nighttime economy manager.

The hubs were pitched over the summer as a potential solution to the so-called “push” of pedestrian and vehicle traffic that spills into downtown after bars close at 2 a.m. As thousands of patrons aim to leave simultaneously, cab and rideshare drivers struggled to navigate cluttered and closed streets.

But challenges remain in the congestion.

An Uber spokesman said the company has recommended the city open more hubs and work closely with ridesharing companies on nights with larger-thannormal traffic. He cited nights like Aug. 24, when the Florida Gators and Miami Hurricanes kicked off addressing the college football season at Camping World Stadium while the Backstreet Boys held a concert at the Amway Center.

“Due to road closures and the amount of people who were in the downtown area, reliability suffers,” Uber spokesman Javi Correoso said. “But for the most part, we’ve thought it’s gone well.”

Yun Ling, Lyft’s general manager for Central Florida, said the company also would be open to more hubs downtown.

Orlando opened hubs at Heritage Square and Gertrude’s Walk, where patrons can gather and drivers can go to ferry them home.

Greco-Ryan said Orlando will work to improve traffic plans, add signage and try to decrease wait times at the Heritage Square hub on Magnolia Avenue, which is used by about 40% more riders than Gertrude’s Walk.

“I think that’s because [Heritage Square] is right there in your line of sight,” Greco-Ryan said, though noting the Gertrude’s Walk hub, on Gertrude Avenue near Jefferson and Washington Streets is more efficient, operating smoothly like an airport, and is still close to most bars.

Neither Uber or Lyft would provide how many rides were initiated from the hubs. Correoso said ridership hasn’t been affected by the hubs, while Ling said the hubs have seen an uptick in traffic over the six months.

“We’ve seen an increase in rider pickups and drop-offs at both hub locations, but the Magnolia Avenue hub is the most popular location right now,” he said in an email through a spokeswoman.

The Heritage Square hub, on Magnolia Avenue, also has more amenities with public restrooms available and food trucks able to park there.