Welcome to the 21st Century of hitching a ride: it's called SideCar, a ride-sharing smartphone app.
You plug in a destination and it tells you if someone can pick you up, suggesting a "donation" determined by the passenger.
"It's all cashless, it's done on a credit card so at the end of the trip the passenger simply selects the amount that they'd like to donate to the driver," co-founder Nick Allen explained.
What's different about this app is that the drivers aren't professional cabbies. Meaning, if I want to drive I could. All I need is a license, a car, and a clean background.
Allen said the company does background checks.
"We predominantly use Lexis-Nexis," he said. "We've given well over 100,000 rides and haven't had a single incident."
You can even check out your driver.
But that doesn't make it foolproof, said security expert William Vorlicek.
"Right now in my mind there's a lot of holes in this," Vorlicek said. "Somebody could use this to transport drugs."
Sidecar said its No. 1 priority is safety. But one obstacle in New York City could be the law.
The city's Taxi and Limousine Commission said that any driver accepting payment for point-to-point rides must be licensed with the TLC.
If anything, SideCar proves that people want choices, said Christina Warren, a tech analyst for the website Mashable.
"I think this is yet another example and proves the TLC needs to get on the ball, because this proves people really like other ways of finding and arranging transportation," Warren said.
Monday, May 20 2013 10:36 AM EDT2013-05-20 14:36:21 GMT
Connecticut commuters endured slow trips to work Monday following last week's train collision that that injured 72 people and disrupted rail service into New York City.
Connecticut commuters endured slow trips to work Monday following last week's train collision that that injured 72 people and disrupted rail service into New York City.
Monday, May 20 2013 5:58 AM EDT2013-05-20 09:58:10 GMT
The Connecticut Department of Transportation and Metro-North Railroad released the following information regarding service on the New Haven commuter rail line
The Connecticut Department of Transportation and Metro-North Railroad released the following information regarding service on the New Haven commuter rail line
Sunday, May 19 2013 8:05 PM EDT2013-05-20 00:05:54 GMT
Amtrak announced Sunday night that service remains suspended between New York and New Haven, with limited Amtrak service available between Boston and New Haven.
Amtrak announced Sunday night that service remains suspended between New York and New Haven, with limited Amtrak service available between Boston and New Haven.
Sunday, May 19 2013 3:14 PM EDT2013-05-19 19:14:07 GMT
Authorities say one person is dead and another was injured when the vehicle they were in ran off the road and crashed into Huntington harbor on Long Island Saturday evening.
Authorities say one person is dead and another was injured when the vehicle they were in ran off the road and crashed into Huntington harbor on Long Island Saturday evening.
Sunday, May 19 2013 12:24 AM EDT2013-05-19 04:24:33 GMT
Officials in Connecticut say it was amazing that there were no fatalities or more injuries after two Metro-North trains collided around 6 p.m. in Fairfield Friday evening.
Officials in Connecticut say it was amazing that there were no fatalities or more injuries after two Metro-North trains collided around 6 p.m. in Fairfield Friday evening.
Friday, May 17 2013 9:35 AM EDT2013-05-17 13:35:33 GMT
Danbury's police chief says four officers have violated the city's police rules governing rudeness and civility during a routine traffic stop and that the matter has been referred to state prosecutors.
Danbury's police chief says four officers have violated the city's police rules governing rudeness and civility during a routine traffic stop and that the matter has been referred to state prosecutors.
Friday, May 17 2013 7:05 AM EDT2013-05-17 11:05:50 GMT
Thirty-seven claims have been filed in federal court in Newark over the crash of a commuter ferry in New York City that left dozens of passengers injured.
Thirty-seven claims have been filed in federal court in Newark over the crash of a commuter ferry in New York City that left dozens of passengers injured.
Thursday, May 16 2013 6:47 PM EDT2013-05-16 22:47:54 GMT
The MTA and Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that the A train subway will run its route all the way to the Rockaways starting May 30, seven months after Superstorm Sandy washed away the track support bed.
The MTA and Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that the A train subway will run its route all the way to the Rockaways starting May 30, seven months after Superstorm Sandy washed away the track support bed.
Thursday, May 16 2013 1:36 PM EDT2013-05-16 17:36:00 GMT
A water taxi struck a dock at Pier A and Battery Park Place in Manhattan on Thursday, according to FDNY officials. Two people suffered minor injuries. They refused medical attention.
A water taxi struck a dock at Pier A and Battery Park Place in Manhattan on Thursday, according to FDNY officials. Two people suffered minor injuries. They refused medical attention.
Monday, May 20 2013 10:36 AM EDT2013-05-20 14:36:21 GMT
Connecticut commuters endured slow trips to work Monday following last week's train collision that that injured 72 people and disrupted rail service into New York City.
Connecticut commuters endured slow trips to work Monday following last week's train collision that that injured 72 people and disrupted rail service into New York City.
Monday, May 20 2013 5:58 AM EDT2013-05-20 09:58:10 GMT
The Connecticut Department of Transportation and Metro-North Railroad released the following information regarding service on the New Haven commuter rail line
The Connecticut Department of Transportation and Metro-North Railroad released the following information regarding service on the New Haven commuter rail line
Sunday, May 19 2013 10:57 PM EDT2013-05-20 02:57:40 GMT
The federal judge presiding over civil rights challenges to the stop-and-frisk practices of the New York Police Department has no doubt where she stands with the government.
The federal judge presiding over civil rights challenges to the stop-and-frisk practices of the New York Police Department has no doubt where she stands with the government.
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