SPOT CAN FETCH AN UBER
Company debuts option to request pet ride in Hub
Uber riders in Greater Boston can now bring their pets along with them whenever they take a trip, as the company launched a new inapp option Tuesday specifically designed for pet owners.
Uber Pet, the company’s newest feature, charges riders an additional flat rate of $6 to request a driver that is open to transporting animals in their car.
“It’s a great time-saver for Uber users like myself, because usually I have to call and ask permission and I often have to go through two or three requests before someone will be OK with me bringing my two dogs,” said Paul Mataras, managing partner of Boston Veterinary Clinic. “All in all I think it’s a terrific addition.”
Harry Hartfield, Uber’s communications manager, said the company began developing the option after receiving more and more grievances from both riders and drivers as their user base grew.
“Let’s say you own a dog; you call an Uber and the driver shows up, but the driver isn’t comfortable having a dog in the car for whatever reason, so he cancels on you and you have to start the process all over again,” Hartfield said. “We heard from riders and drivers alike that that can be a frustrating experience.”
Hartfield said they first started testing Uber Pet a few months ago in Austin, Denver, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Tampa, and that its reception prompted them to bring it to Boston.
“If you’re a rider you now can get peace of mind knowing that the driver will show up and be OK with your animal getting in the car, and drivers are getting a little extra money to cover any additional expenses that can come with an animal,” Hartfield said. “I think this is a win-win for everyone.”
For Mataras, the new feature may lead to more pet owners bringing their animals to see a vet, as he said that the frustrations that came with trying to transport pets sometimes caused customers to postpone or avoid coming in.
“Anything that makes it easier for them to get in to see the veterinarian is important, especially in an urban environment,” Mataras said. “For us it’s a great announcement, hopefully a lot of our clients will take advantage of it.”
Riders with service animals do not need to use the option, as all drivers are required to accommodate them, Hartfield said.
The option will be available to residents in Boston, Cambridge and surrounding suburbs.
“Boston is obviously a really important market for us, it’s a really great space to pilot new services,” Hartfield said. “We think there will be a demand for this and that everyone will win.”