Alderman Emma Mitts, Community Groups and Uber Chicago Announce More Than 11,000 New Drivers on South And West Sides
10,000 Goal Surpassed in Nine Months
By Kai EL’ Zabar
Nine months since launching a new initiative to recruit drivers from Chicago’s south and west sides, Uber Chicago today was joined by Alderman Emma Mitts (37th) and community organizations to announce the goal was surpassed three months early.
More than 11,000 Chicagoans from the south and west sides have begun driving with Uber since the initiative began. To date, these new drivers have earned more than $13 million on the Uber platform.
Uber teamed with the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, Chicago Urban League, YWCA Metropolitan Chicago and local organizations from Austin, Garfield Park, Auburn Gresham, Chatham and other south and west side neighborhoods to host more than 100 driver recruitment events. In addition, Uber recruited drivers at numerous community forums, street festivals and parades.
Alderman Mitts and leaders from local organizations praised the milestone.
“Over the last nine months, I’ve worked closely with Uber to connect more people in the neighborhoods with economic opportunity,” said Ald. Emma Mitts. “Giving people the power to work as much as they want whenever they want is a positive for our community.”
“More people working in our neighborhoods means Chicago’s economy is moving forward,” said Dorri McWhorter, CEO of YWCA Metropolitan Chicago. “Through our partnership with Uber, we’ve seen more and more women embracing the power to push a button and earn money on their own schedule. We’re excited about these growing economic benefits in our communities and we need more of it.”
The initiative aimed to connect Chicagoans on the south and west sides to the flexible earning opportunity that Uber provides, where they can be their own boss and choose their own hours. Rising demand for rides in these areas has increased the need for more drivers. Uber trips on the south and west sides of Chicago have grown 30 times over the last two years — at the same time average wait times have been cut to four minutes in these neighborhoods.
“One of the biggest ways Uber can make a difference is by serving neighborhoods that have historically been underserved,” said Marco McCottry, Uber’s General Manager in Chicago. “Whether it’s providing transportation options or economic opportunity to neighborhoods that need it, we’re proud to be part of the solution to improve our communities.”
Currently, Uber is completing millions of trips per month in Chicago. More than half of all uberX trips begin or end in a neighborhood defined by the City as underserved by taxi and public transportation.
While ridesharing services are already regulated in Chicago, today’s news comes as aldermen consider an ordinance that would impose additional regulations to restrict transportation choices so that only pricey chauffeur services are available. This would also make it harder for Chicagoans to earn money with Uber. More than 50% of uberX driver-partners use the app less than 10 hours a week. For more information, click here.
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