A man rides a bicycle during a Winter Storm Jonas on January 23, 2016 in New York. (FRANCOIS XAVIER MARIT/AFP/Getty Images)
A man rides a bicycle during Winter Storm Jonas on January 23, 2016 in New York. (FRANCOIS XAVIER MARIT/AFP/Getty Images)
Turns out there is one thing that can beat $62 billion-valued Uber: the weather.
Winter Storm Jonas is dumping snow all over the northeastern U.S., and ride-hailing services can’t keep up. Uber announced on Saturday that it will shut down operations in New York and New Jersey coinciding with the 2:30pm travel ban set by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. Service is suspended in the two states “until further notice.”
Users who called up the app in New York City on Saturday saw an alert from Uber: “Due to extreme weather in New York City and road closures for all non-emergency vehicles, Uber partners are currently staying off the road.”
The Uber alert in New York City.
The Uber alert in New York City.
Meanwhile, in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia, Uber is still operating, but surge pricing has been capped and the company says driver estimated arrival times will be longer than usual. The company has been criticized in the past for letting surge prices run wild during poor weather conditions.Uber's alert in Washington DC.
Uber’s alert in Washington DC.
Uber’s rival Lyft did not post any similar warning and its app appears to be working in New York City, although no cars appear when requested.