UF Student Government has partnered with Uber to offer a student discount for rides on and near campus.
Throughout April, students commuting within a specific zone will receive 50 percent off their rides Wednesday through Saturday from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m.
The promotion covers a large portion of the area surrounding campus, including Midtown.
To use the UF Safe Ride program, new and existing Uber members should visit the blog.uber.com/UFsaferides site for a promotional code. With that code, a separate “UF Safe Rides” option will appear on the app.
Students must request the ride from this option in order for the discount to be applied.
UF Student Body President Cory Yeffet said a normal Uber ride within the program’s boundaries costs an average of $5 to $7.
“I can understand students saying that’s a little pricey, and maybe ‘I’ll walk this time,’” Yeffet said.
Now, that fare will be split in half.
“It’s a how-can-you-not kind of thing,” Yeffet said. “The goal is student safety.”
SG’s current contract with the company ends in April, but Uber spokesman Bill Gibbons said they plan on maintaining the partnership.
“The basis of our platform is trying to increase the options that people have for safe, reliable and affordable transportation,” Gibbons said.
[A version of this story ran on page 1 on 4/2/2015 under the headline “Uber rides on, near campus at discounted rates”]
