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Americans Increasingly Using Ride-Hailing Apps

Thirty-six percent of US adults polled by the Pew Research Center in the fall of 2018 said they have used a ride-hailing service at least once, up from just 15 percent who said the same in late 2015. If you live in a rural area, though, you probably haven't ever used Uber or Lyft.

By Angela Moscaritolo
January 9, 2019
Pew ride-hailing

Americans are increasingly relying on ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Lyft to get from point A to point B, according to new data from the Pew Research Center.

The Why Axis Bug

Thirty-six percent of US adults polled by the research firm in the fall of 2018 said they have used a ride-hailing service at least once, up from just 15 percent of Americans who said the same in late 2015.

"Ride-hailing use has increased across most demographic groups, but adoption figures continue to vary by age, educational attainment, and income level," Pew Research Analyst Jingjing Jiang wrote in a blog post.

In the US, ride-hailing services are most popular among young adults, college graduates, and those earning $75,00 or more a year, the data indicates. Fifty-one percent of 18- to 29-year-olds have used a ride-hailing service, for instance, compared with just 24 percent of those age 50 and older who have done so.

Meanwhile, more than half of college grads (55 percent) and those whose annual household income is $75,000 or more (53 percent) have used these services, Pew found. In comparison, just 20 percent of Americans with a high school diploma or less education and 24 percent of those earning less than $30,000 have tried them.

If you live in a rural area, you probably haven't ever ordered an Uber or Lyft. Pew found that just 19 percent of people living in rural areas have used a ride-hailing service, compared with 45 percent of urban dwellers and 40 percent of those residing in suburbia.

"Ride-hailing companies have made efforts to expand their services to rural and remote areas," Jiang noted. "But lower population density, long travel distance, and relatively low incentives for drivers are often cited as potential hurdles."

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About Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

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