February 21, 2017
Have you called an Uber recently? You may have gotten a notification from the ridesharing giant that your fare is increasing – slightly.
The booking fee in Philadelphia – a flat charge included in the overall cost of the ride – increased from $1.25 to $1.45, effective Feb. 18. Users are being informed of the new rate when they hail rides using the company's app.
Craig Ewer, a spokesperson for Uber, said the change is not exclusive to the Philadelphia region.
“Based on the results of a regular review of our business costs, we are increasing our booking fee," he said. "The booking fee is a separate flat fee added to every trip that helps support regulatory, safety and operational costs. We notified riders and driver-partners of these changes before they were made.”
A spokesperson for Lyft did not return an immediate request for comment.
After a long battle with the Philadelphia Parking Authority, Gov. Tom Wolf signed a bill in November that officially legalized ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft throughout the Pennsylvania.
