To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Uber is paying people $1,000 to ditch their cars for five weeks

Uber is paying people $1,000 to ditch their cars for five weeks

It's a great way to reduce the number of cars on the road.

If you're not a fan of driving or could use a break in the passenger seat for a few weeks, Uber has you sorted.

Not convinced? What if they paid you to do it?

That's right, the world's largest taxi company is offering money to customers who give up their cars for a short time.

Starting on July 22, Uber's One Less Car trial will give $1,000 to car owners in Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, San Francisco, Toronto, Vancouver, and Washington, D.C. to ditch their cars and use other ways to get around for five weeks.

The trial is being done in partnership with the UK-based Behavioural Insights Team and aims to reduce the number of personal cars on the road and encourage a lifestyle less dependent on cars.

NurPhoto / Contributor / Getty
NurPhoto / Contributor / Getty

It's a good move too since the US is a car-heavy country. Nearly 92% of households in the US own at least one vehicle, according to the Census Bureau.

But owning a car is becoming more expensive than ever.

'Many Uber riders tell us they want to live a more car-light lifestyle with a variety of ways to ride, including public transit, shared bikes and scooters, walking, and rideshare,' said Adam Gromis, global head of Sustainability Policy at Uber.

'This research is critical to help us figure out how to make car-light living possible for more people who want to save money, emissions and time in traffic.'

How it works is that 175 participants - 30 from each city - will give up their car and get $1,000 over five weeks. This money can be put towards public transit, e-bikes, e-scooters, car rentals, and rideshares.

NurPhoto / Contributor / Getty
NurPhoto / Contributor / Getty

The money will be divided as well. $500 will be given in Uber Cash for Uber rides and Lime e-bikes and scooters booked in the Uber app, $200 will go towards car rentals and $300 for public transit.

Eligible participants need to tick a couple of boxes.

To join, you must be: 18 years or older, have a driver's license, use your personal vehicle more than three times a week, have a bank card, and be willing to document your experience with alternative transportation.

And of course, you must be living in the selected cities.

The first week is a control period where participants will record their usual driving habits.

Uber first trialled the One Less Car program on a smaller scale in Australia in 2023.

They found that people need consistent access to four other transportation options to replace their private cars.

According to their press release, cycling and rideshare use increased about four to five times, train and bus trips went up 'significantly,' and walking increased by 75%.

'We're out to show that it's possible to make the switch to a car-light lifestyle,' Gromis wrote in a blog post.

Featured Image Credit: NurPhoto / Contributor / Getty