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SEPTA strike's silver lining: Uber, Lyft, and cabs are doing great

    by Jason Laughlin and Aswin Mannepalli, STAFF WRITERS | Columnist
    Published 

As Philadelphia scrambles for a ride during the SEPTA strike, the big winners have included Uber and Lyft.

UberX and UberPool reported a 41 percent increase in rush-hour passengers Tuesday compared with a week earlier. Uber's carpooling service accounted for 38 percent of all rush-hour trips Tuesday, the company reported Wednesday, compared with 25 percent the previous Tuesday. Lyft reported a 46 percent increase in rides Tuesday compared with Monday, the day that SEPTA buses, trolleys, and trains last ran. The strike's silver lining wasn't reserved just for the ride-hailing apps. Taxis also saw a spike in business, said Ron Blount, president of the Taxi Drivers Alliance of Philadelphia. The strike coincided with the rollout of 15 Toyota Camry cabs that had no partitions and internal cameras, changes made possible by regulations relaxed by the Philadelphia Parking Authority last month, said Everett Abitbol, Freedom Taxi Service's owner.

Uber and Lyft, unlike cabs, increase prices in response to added demand, and rush-hour travelers noticed.