Need a cab to the airport? Hitchsters will save you money

May 20, 2008, by itsnearme

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Taxi rides between New York City's Manhattan and Brooklyn Borroughs its airports are expensive and can run anywhere from $30 to $100. So why not split it with other travelers and save money? By matching people to share a ride, Hitchsters makes taking a cab to or from the airport affordable, environmentally friendly and fun.

Hitchsters’ matching system makes it a location-based service: match people from the same location that need to go to or from the same airport at the same time. Currently the service is available in NYC neighborhood's of Manhattan and Brooklyn, with Boston planned next.

Users can search for a potential co-rider who has already signed up. If they can’t find match, they can enter their information and wait to be matched. Once a match is made, they will be notified with both a text message and an e-mail containing the co-rider’s name and phone number. The users can then can connect and arrange to meet to share a cab.

When sharing a ride to the airport, users will only be matched with a co-rider who is leaving from the same area and is going to the same airport. When sharing a ride from an airport, users will only be matched with a co-rider who is on the same flight (to avoid flight delays issues ) and is going to the same area.

Hitchsters is a great concept, the interface is well designed and easy to use. However, in order for the service to survive and to justify its existence it needs to overcome a few problems: Increase its user base (we tried it in NYC a few times and couldn’t find a match; it seems that it has only a few users) and convince people that it’s better for them to split the ride even if it’s with strangers.

The million dollar question: How can Hitchsters make money from the service? (they say that they don’t know yet) Do you think Hitchsters can succeed? Did you use Hitchsters and can share your experience? Leave a comment and let us know.

How to use this service?

Pros:

• environmental friendly - one cab instead of two
• connects people by location, time and need
• clear and easy to use

Cons:

• small user base, it's hard to find a co-rider
• you may end up sharing the ride with a creep or smelly person
• not a complete service, needs to have agreement with car service in every city

Check it out: www.hitchsters.com

What's the damage? Free

Coverage area: Manhattan and Brooklyn (Boston coming next)

Access requirements: Computer (mobile phone to connect to other users)

ItsNearMe rating: 3.5 out of 5

Comments:

May 21, 2008 06:50 PM:

I used it and couldn't find anyone to share the ride...

-- Josh

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Posted by itsnearme on May 20, 2008 11:57 AM