Ridesharing is our opportunity to cut traffic and create jobs

Hawaii is known — and famous — for many things: our beaches, our waters, our unique "aloha spirit." Another thing we’re (in)famous for is our traffic.

According to Forbes Magazine, when it comes to crowded streets and congested roads, we’re No. 1. A quick glance at H-1 freeway will reveal hundreds of cars with hundreds of drivers and very few passengers. With the uberX product, Uber is seeking to change that.

If you’re not familiar with uberX, it’s simple: everyday people using technology, their personal vehicles and their spare time to provide people like you and me with safe, reliable and low-cost rides to earn extra cash.

It’s based on a concept known as ridesharing.

It is revolutionizing the way people connect with cities around the world, and it has the potential to reduce wait times and road congestion in the process. By filling empty seats and reducing the need for car ownership, this can have tremendous impact on how we live.

According to one study by researchers at the University of California at Berkeley, 92 percent of rideshare cars arrived in under 10 minutes. But the benefits of ridesharing services aren’t limited to less traffic and less time waiting for a ride alone.

Ride-share users are connected with safe, reliable transportation options, wherever and whenever they choose, at the touch of a button. The safe, seamless experience means never having to worry about hailing a ride, finding parking or having cash.

For drivers, there are tremendous opportunities to start a small business, be one’s own boss, and overcome Honolulu’s high cost of living. Drivers on the Uber platform must pass a strict background check and vehicle inspection. Once they do, they have the ability to make their own hours, working as little or as much as they wish.

And for cities like Honolulu, ridesharing means less traffic, more economic development and more ways to pay the bills and provide for a family. It promotes sharing and opportunity, reduces costs and creates more efficient ways of getting around — plain and simple.

But despite its simplicity, there’s still confusion about what ridesharing companies are and do. And it’s not surprising — innovative services don’t fit into traditional categories.

As a result, some have sought a one-size-fits-all approach to regulation that would force Uber — a smart-phone-based app — to comply with rules written before the Internet was even invented.

Uber is neither a taxi company nor a transportation company— it doesn’t own any vehicles or employ any drivers. It’s a technology platform that serves and connects two sets of customers: drivers looking for business, and riders looking for a premium experience that’s quick, safe and reliable.

It’s often said that "the joy is in the journey," and while there’s wisdom in that idea, it’s definitely not the case when it comes to getting around Honolulu. Solving our traffic problems is a huge undertaking, but rideshare companies can be part of the solution.

A wave of innovation is being unleashed in cities all across the globe, transforming the way people move, work and live for the better. With ridesharing, Honolulu has the opportunity to decrease congestion, create jobs and grow our economy. These are things each and every one of us can get behind.

It’s time to ride the wave.