Need a quick ride to Willard Airport (CMI) and don’t want to bother with parking? Or don’t want to bother family or friends with picking you up?
Heading downtown or out on campus for some adult beverages and leaving the car at home?
It’s raining and you don’t want to wait for the MTD bus to get you back to your apartment from the grocery store?
Problem solved!
The leading ridesharing company Uber has announced its arrival at 1:30pm on Sunday, February 15, 2015 on the campus of the University of Illinois and the surrounding Champaign-Urbana community! I suspect Uber Champaign (or Uber Chambana, as I prefer) will be a perfect fit in this “Tech City To Watch“, “micro-urban” community with a world-renown public research university of some 45,000 students.
RELATED:
Meet My Micro-Urban Hometown: Champaign-Urbana, Illinois
Uber Adds Panic Button
Uber’s Demographics Are Changing: Passengers and Drivers!
Uber Wins In Illinois, For Now
Uber Announces 420 New Headquarter Jobs In Chicago
BONUS: FREE $30 to start (Code: UBERCHAMBANA) Limited Time!
Drops to $20 on 2/15/2015. New users only; both the person being referred and the person referring receive a $30 credit.
This post discusses:
- What Is Uber?
- Uber Rates In Champaign-Urbana
- Uber Rider & Driver Bonuses
- How To Become An Uber Driver
I use Uber every chance I get when I travel. It’s convenient, clean, safe(r), and I love the fact that I don’t have to deal with getting out my wallet or tipping when getting out of the car. Just arrive, exit, and go!
WHAT IS UBER?
Uber, a San Francisco-based company valued at $40 billion founded in 2009, relies on its smartphone app to connect “ride sharing” drivers and riders generally driving their personal vehicles (UberX), an executive black car (UberBlack), an SUV (UberSUV) or a taxi (UberTaxi). Riders request a pickup via the app to a specific destination, with fares based on a distance and time combination with the driver’s tip included. The trip cost is automatically charged on a saved credit card, eliminating the need to fumble with a wallet, purse, or otherwise dig out cash and calculated any tip.
Here’s an example (fare vary by city):
An example of a recent ride I took in Scottsdale, AZ with UberX in his BMW 5-series.
Typical UberX cost breakdown, charged directly to your credit card when stepping out of the ride (i.e. when driver pushes “End Trip”).
UBER CHAMBANA RATES
Uber Champaign will start off with just offering UberX, which is typical for smaller markets. Popular quick trips around campus or between campustown and downtown Champaign should only run $5 (min. fare).
So, if you haven’t tried Uber, what are you waiting for!?
And if you really feel adventurous… or just need to earn some extra cash on YOUR schedule (see “Uber’s Demographics” article link below)… why not become a driver!?
RIDERS: Free $30 to start :: –> Link Limited Time! Drops to $20 on 2/15/2015.
DRIVERS: $100 bonus to start :: –> Link
WANT AN UBER RIDER BONUS?
Uber continues to offer a $30 referral credit (limited time, as normally $20) Every new rider who signs up with this link gets their first ride free (up to $30), and I get equal credit for spreading the word. It’s the ultimate win-win. Once you’ve signed up with the referral link, you should immediately see the free ride in your account.
Uber Driver (Ok, you don’t have to dress to the nines)
WANT TO BECOME A DRIVER?
If you’re considering becoming an Uber driver, NOW is the time, as I suspect Uber will spread FAST in Chambana! That’s a large pool of tech-savy, smart-phone owning student riders alone to driver huge demand, not to mention the young professionals *cough* who wish to take advantage of the convenience (e.g. “off to Willard Airport, please!”).
Must be 21 years old and pass a background check. Drivers are screened against criminal records, the National Sex Offender Registry, and driving records (no DUI, reckless driving, driving without insurance, or a suspended license. Car must be less than 10 years old, have four doors and cannot be rebuilt or have a salvage title.
Become an Uber Driver now in the Chambana area now to earn a new driver referral bonus to $100!
New drivers only; both the person being referred and the person referring receive credit.
Steps to your bonus:
- Sign up here
- Upload all required documents and photos to the UberPartner website (it’s all easy to do online)
- Link your bank account for payment direct deposit (optional)
- Drive 20 trips (normally only takes 2-4 hours of driving)
I would add, study the maps and routes around Champaign-Urbana, Savoy and surrounding areas, as you cannot always trust the mapping app to guide you (and your customer) perfectly or efficiently.
Drive and ride safely, chambana!
____
@travelblawg
facebook.com/travelblawg
Subscribe in the sidebar!
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission.
This is GREAT news! For as much as I LOVED going to the U of I as a student, this fellow Illini hasn’t visited in a very long time. I’m a huge Uber fan and this will make exploring so much easier. In particular, I hear there there’s a lot more to explore downtown (e.g , beyond Campus Town). I may be coming to you shortly for restaurant recommendations 😉
CU has undergone some major changes in the last 10-15 years. I’m always happy to provide my suggestions for some must-sees and must-eats!