Rideshare apps have changed the transportation world as we know it, bringing on-demand car service all over the world that’s easily bookable through a tap on your smartphone.
But what about the world of specialty transportation services, especially for people with disabilities?
That’s where UZURV comes in.
UZURV is an app that allows riders to book on-demand rides up to 30 days in advance with drivers who are specially certified to work with passengers who have disabilities.
For riders who often struggle to use public transportation and need additional help, UZURV can be a great option to get where you need to go.
In this article we’ll give a brief guide both to UZURV and adaptive transportation.
We’ll then dive into how the service works, and offer helpful tips on using the app for both riders and drivers.
What Is UZURV?
UZURV is a ridesharing app that’s specially designed to serve people with disabilities or those who need additional medical attention.
That wasn’t always the case, however.
UZURV originally started as a third-party app that was meant to let you book your favorite driver ahead of time with Uber or Lyft.
Scheduling an Uber or Lyft can be a bit of a dice roll, especially in rural areas since these companies classify their drivers as independent contractors and cannot mandate they work at any given time.
This makes scheduling difficult.
However, as Uber and Lyft improved their networks and their scheduling capabilities, UZURV found a new business to thrive in: Adaptive transportation.
The company’s CEO John Donlon has billed the platform as the first “Adaptive Transportation Network Company,” and has worked with city governments to provide rides with specialized care on-demand for people with a disability or people who need extra medical care.
This partnership began with the Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) in Virginia, and has now expanded to over 45 communities in the mid-Atlantic (and beyond).
UZURV has also formed a partnership with The American Cancer Society.
A Brief Guide to Adaptive Transportation
Adaptive transportation is the act of providing transportation for those in the community who are most in need.
For people with disabilities, public transportation is often a challenge to use.
And in rural areas, or smaller cities where the public transportation system is not as comprehensive, using public transportation can be prohibitively difficult.
Because of this, many cities have had to find work-around solutions to become compliant with the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act).
In some cities, this has taken the form of paratransit services.
Paratransit service is often a specialized bus or van which runs along a less defined route than traditional buses and can have pick-ups scheduled during certain times.
Other cities have embraced a more on-demand approach to adaptive transportation, and have turned to apps like UZURV, which allow riders to book rides directly through a third-party app.
Those rides are then subsidized by the city.
For people with disabilities who have previously struggled to schedule rides, apps like UZURV offer a much-needed option.
They have made life easier for people who often need to make medical appointments and can now bypass unwieldy public transportation to do so.
How UZURV Works
UZURV provides door-to-door service and can be scheduled up to 30 days in advance and up to an hour before the ride.
These transactions are completed through the app, UZURV 360, which is available on the App Store or Google Play.
Riders can also book by dialing a toll-free number, 1-804-308-0163, where they will be connected to a transit coordinator who will assist them.
Transit coordinators not only can help schedule rides, but be briefed on a passenger’s unique needs and ensure that the vehicle that comes to pick up a rider is able to handle whatever needs they may have.
Once a driver is booked, the passenger is contacted to confirm the ride, and then contacted again to let the passenger know that the driver is en route.
Drivers park, and then go directly to the door of the passenger, assisting from doorstep to car.
The driver then delivers passengers safely to the destination, and assists in getting them to the door of where they need to be.
It is truly door-to-door service.
Why Drive for UZURV?
UZURV drivers often serve as Lyft drivers or Uber drivers as well.
If you’re a driver for one or both of these apps, you would need to agree to not be “on” for the other rideshare services when driving for UZURV.
UZURV trips aren’t booked as often as they are for Uber or Lyft.
But in many markets, getting certified is easy. Plus, as a certified driver, you can earn premium fares.
UZURV starts with a higher minimum fare per ride than Uber or Lyft, has better rates per mile, and in many markets has guaranteed incentives.
UZURV offers specialized training to drivers, letting them learn about HIPAA, CPR, and ADA regulations, and making them more qualified drivers in the process.
Driving for the service also allows drivers to have more control over rides, letting them schedule in advance as well as see the total trip before accepting a ride — something Uber and Lyft don’t allow drivers to do.
And, as most UZURV rides take place during normal business hours, it offers a bit more regularity to drivers’ schedules.
UZURV Driver Requirements
The service has similar requirements for rideshare drivers as companies like Uber or Lyft.
While there are different city and state regulations for adaptive transit drivers (and vehicles), these are UZURV’s general driver requirements:
- Drivers have to be at least 21 years old and have an active United States driver’s license
- Must pass a criminal background check and have at least seven years of no felonies, drug charges, or convictions for violent crimes (they will also do a lifetime check on the National Sex Offender registry)
- Must pass a driving background check and have no record of DUI
Some cities will require that you take a drug screening in order to be qualified for working in adaptive transit.
UZURV will let you know if that’s the case.
Vehicle requirements state that cars:
- Must be a four-door vehicle that’s fewer than 10 years old
- Seat at least five, and preferably up to eight passengers
- Must be a non-smoking vehicle
- Not have any major mechanical or cosmetic issues
UZURV also strongly encourages drivers to get additional rideshare insurance to protect drivers and riders.
Learn more about rideshare insurance and why this can be a good idea.
Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve covered UZURV, adaptive transportation, and why you might want to drive for this service.
Let’s get to some frequently asked questions.
1. What if a driver or a rider is a no-show?
No-shows are unavoidable in extenuating circumstances, but UZURV does its best to ensure that they never happen.
If a rider is a no-show, the rider will be charged a $5 fee, $4 of which will go directly to the driver.
The rider will also be charged the app’s standard reservation fee of $2.95 as well.
If a driver is a no-show, the driver will be charged that reservation fee, plus an additional no-show fee of $5.
The driver will also be contacted via UZURV for an explanation, and if one isn’t provided in a timely manner, the driver will be suspended from the system until a review is conducted.
2. Can drivers or riders cancel a ride ahead of time?
Yes.
Riders can cancel up to two hours before a scheduled pick-up with no penalty.
If they cancel during that window, they will be charged the same fees as outlined for no-shows.
Drivers are allowed to cancel accepted trips up to seven hours in advance.
Any sooner, they will be charged the service fee as well as a cancellation fee of $5.
3. As a driver, why do some trips I accept then disappear from my scheduled trips?
When a driver accepts a trip through the app, that is only telling UZURV that the driver is interested in the trip, not that the trip is confirmed.
Once UZURV selects a driver for the ride, that may appear in the “scheduled” section in your app.
If they go with another driver, it will disappear.
Adaptive Transportation
Riders with disabilities should not be left out of the convenience of on-demand transportation.
UZURV allows riders to book well in advance and get rides with certified drivers specifically chosen to best meet their needs.
The platform offers true door-to-door service and extra assistance for riders who need it, and for drivers, it offers premium rates and the chance for additional training.
For smarter mobility, UZURV is a great option.
