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SALT LAKE CITY — Parents who are sick of driving their kids to and from activities may catch a break way before their child turns 16 — a new app wants to be a personal shuttle service for children.
The app is called Shuddle and it's basically Uber for children. Parents can set up rides for using an app that connects them with drivers who will take their children to soccer practice or dance class or even just a ride home from school.
“As parents, we know how precious your cargo is and how important an extra 30 minutes in your day can be,” reads Shuddle's website. “As technologists, we believe in creating a smart, safe and transparent service that adds convenience to everyday lives.”
How does it work?
Parents first must download the Shuddle app, which costs $9 a month plus the fare money for each ride. Rides have to be scheduled at least a day and up to a week in advance via the Shuddle app. The Shuddle driver then picks up the child and takes him or her to his or her destination and the parent can track the ride in real time with the app. At the end of the ride, parents get a confirmation text that their child arrived at the designated destination.
While most parents would agree that it would be nice to have extra time during the day, is it really safe to send your children with strangers? Shuddle says yes, and even has a “Safety” tab that outlines its standards and regulations.
What about the drivers?
Most of our drivers are nannies, teachers and child-care providers. Our value proposition to them is, 'Hey, our customers are all families, these rides are happening during the day and you can schedule them ahead of time,' and that really resonates with women.
–Nick Allen, Shuddle founder
Drivers must have a car that is at least 10 years old or newer, has four doors and pass a 19-point inspection. What about the drivers?
“Before a driver can ever get behind the wheel, we run an extensive criminal background and DMV records check, conduct a face-to-face interview and check two employer references,” the website says. “After drivers are approved, we continually monitor insurance and license records.”
For some parents that is not reassurance enough.
“I can see how this might be beneficial to someone who works full time or doesn't have a large social circle of friends, but personally, I'm way too paranoid to allow strangers take my kids without an adult I know and trust present,” mom of two and Arizona resident Betsy Westberg told KSL.com.
Other parents say time in the car with their children is invaluable.
“That time spent traveling in the car with my kids over the years wasn't lost. It's a good opportunity to connect with them,” mom of four Lorie Pierce told KSL.com. “Granted, sometimes as teens they didn't always want connecting, but even still the message sent was that they were important enough and I was interested enough in them to make the effort and sacrifice.”
Research says that time can be valuable too if a parent uses it right. A study from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater showed that children are more willing to open up to parents in the car about “sensitive subjects" because they aren't forced to make eye contact and it makes them more comfortable.
Uber's also trying to win the child market
Parents across the country have been using Uber to cart their children around for over a year. Time writer Randye Hoder uses Uber to bring her son home when he spends a weekend evening at a friend's house over 30 minutes away.
“Having my 15-year-old son use the automobile-for-hire service, accessed via a smartphone app, seemed like an absolute no-brainer,” she wrote on time.com in November 2013. “At the end of a long week of work, my husband and I were only too happy to say 'Sure, go ahead and Uber.'”
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Other parents in major metropolitan areas also use Uber to shuttle their children to and from school.
Jennifer G. has three children at three different schools and she and her husband both work full time. How do they get their children to all their after school activities? They don't.
“Even though we had tried Uber ourselves, I was pretty conflicted,” she told the washingtonian.com. “You’re leaving your child with an adult you don’t know — of course there is a safety concern.” But, she adds, it “feels safer than a cab.”
Jennifer is not alone. Parents who live too close to use the bus system but too far for their children to walk to school safely are turning to Uber. And Uber forums are full of posts about how to get in on the school market for drivers looking for a steady stream of rides.
That's why Shuddle is trying to get in on the ride-sharing market for children, Shuddle founder Nick Allen told today.com, by providing what they call a "safer" alternative that is strictly geared for children.
"Most of our drivers are nannies, teachers and child-care providers," Allen said. "Our value proposition to them is, 'Hey, our customers are all families, these rides are happening during the day and you can schedule them ahead of time,' and that really resonates with women."
As of now, all of Shuddle's drivers are women, Allen added. It is currently only available in San Francisco, but Allen plans to expand to places across the country.
Would you use Shuddle or Uber to get your child to and from activities or school? Let us know in the comments.
