New Year’s Eve ride share surges could cost customers more than the night out

While many people head out to celebrate the New Year, cab and Uber drivers parked on the street wait to pick up their next ride. “They’re celebrating so there’ll be a lot of them and they’ll be wanting rides. that’s when you get a surge,” Uber driver Paul Kalamanek. Uber — a fierce competitor to the taxi industry — costs riders about $10 for six mile ride. Over New Year’s weekend that price could quadruple depending on the time and how many people make requests. Taxi drivers said that same fare would cost their customers around $20. “We hear it all the time that our prices are high. That’s because our prices are set for year round, so on New Year’s Eve we’re actually a bargain,” American Cab driver Frank Furlong said. Surge prices may have some people think twice about ride options. One person said for her, the convenience outweighs the cost. “At the end of the day, it’s a lot cheaper than a D.U.I and I’d rather be safe than sorry,” Karina Gaston said. Riders can also choose to use Lyft, but like Uber, the prices could cost customers more than their night out.