Uber taxi service has launched uberFamily, a new family-focused service to attract families with kids by adding child seats for extra $10.
Uber, renowned private on-demand taxi service, launched uberFamily in New York City to lure more customers. The new concept, which was announced Thursday, is tailored specially for families with kids that can now demand a child seat for an additional cost of $10. The company uses best drivers from uberX that have been trained and certified in car seat installation.
Uber has partnered with the world's largest online destination for family care, Care.com. The new concept is launching with a free child seat for a ride with Uber over the weekend to celebrate Mother's Day. Also, Care.com is offering a free care package to the first 1,000 New York City families using the new service and a discount on using the company's resources to find full-time, part-time babysitters, nannies and caregivers.
"Transporting children safely is extremely important to us. More than half of our members seeking childcare include some kind of transportation requirement when they are looking for caregivers," Sheila Lirio Marcelo, Founder and CEO of Care.com, said in a press release. "In teaming up with Uber, we're raising awareness of the importance of child safety in car rides and helping provide an easier way for families to get around New York."
To get started, download the Uber app on the smartphone and choose the person icon and select promotions. Type promo code "FAMILY" to unlock uberFamily service and book a ride, Uber said in a blog post, Thursday.
The drivers chosen for the uberFamily service have been handpicked by the company and trained for safety. The child seats are created by safety design firm IMMI and all drivers are trained to use the custom car seats. Drivers are, at all times, advised to have the detachable seats in their car trunks, Tech Times reports.
The latest move in the Uber service comes almost three weeks after the company announced a $1 hike for added on-road security for customers. The additional charge covers background checks, motor vehicle checks, driver safety education, and more. Earlier this month, Uber was also directly integrated in Google Maps.
