A new promotion zeroes in on disgruntled commuters.

One of the great, looming questions of transportation is whether transportation network companies will complement or compete with transit. A recent promotion moves toward the compete end of the spectrum.1

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Uber has said for years that it’s not here to kill public transportation. But a new uberPool promotion suggests the ride-hailing service may be inching closer to becoming competition for public transit.  

The company announced this week that it’s offering folks in Manhattan ridiculously cheap uberPool rides during commuting hours (weekday mornings and evenings, basically) throughout July and August. The deal, called the “Uber Commute Card,” is available to members of Gilt City, a free but ritzy coupon site for people in New York.

 Gilt City describes the card as a lower-cost, more comfortable alternative to the train or bus:

This summer, treat yourself to unlimited uberPOOL trips in Manhattan during commuting hours. Because while sweaty, full-body contact with strangers has its place, it’s not on your way to work.

The Commute Card could be a pretty sweet deal for anyone who manages to snag one. A four-week pass costs just $79. By comparison, a one-month unlimited subway card is $116.50. Traveling in the city twice a day, five days a week, works out to $2.91 per subway trip or $1.98 per uberPool ride. 

The promotion suggests Uber may be trying to expand its user base in the city by siphoning at least some riders away from the subway. While the short-term deal is unlikely to significantly reduce subway ridership, many people are concerned that drawing riders away from the subway will eventually suck money and political will from efforts to maintain the transit system.

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