BROOKLYN, N.Y. (KGTV) -- A new study released this July says ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft are actually contributing to heavier traffic.
The study, conducted by Schaller Consulting, found that ride-sharing companies compete mainly with public transportation, walking and biking. So instead of taking a bus or train, customers use services that put more vehicles on the road.
The study found that even services like UberPOOL and Lyft Shared Rides, while claiming to reduce traffic, still add mileage to city streets and do not offset the impacts of UberX and Lyft.
The shared rides add to traffic because, according to the study, users are switching from non-auto modes of travel like biking.
According to the data, the metropolitan areas of Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington D.C. are home to 70 percent of Uber and Lyft trips.
It’s not all bad news though. The study also found that ride-share services can help provide support for seniors, people with low incomes and those with disabilities.
In addition, the same companies show promise in providing subsidized connections to different forms of public transportation.
