New Year s Eve the day to overpay for everything including that ride home from Uber.
The ride hailing app expects this New Year s Eve to be its busiest night ever. Because of high demand and because it can Uber expects surge pricing will come into effect a boon to its drivers but a bane to passengers. Fares can increase sevenfold or more during the busiest time of the night which Uber says will be between 12 30 a.m. and 2 30 a.m.
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To avoid spiking fares Uber suggests booking a ride right after the ball drops at midnight or wait until after 2 30 a.m. The app will notify users in advance if surge pricing is in effect and full price estimates are given before requesting a ride.
Riders might also consider using the SurgeProtector app which offers users walking directions to low or no surge zones. It s currently only available for iPhone users but it s sometimes the case that zones where surge pricing is in effect are very concentrated.
Around 4 30 p.m. surge pricing had not gone into effect in many parts of Boston that will be highly trafficked later this evening. A trip from Harvard St. and Commonwealth Ave. in Allston to the bars along Boylston Street would cost a user $7 to $10 on the low cost UberX service while a longer trip from Davis Square to the Seaport District would cost $16 to $21 according to the Uber app.
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In addition to partying at home taking public transportation or a cab however there are other options for revelers who for whatever reason think better of driving on New Year s Eve.
Riders who use rival Lyft also will see a version of Uber s price surge called Prime Time. The feature is turned on when ride requests greatly outnumber available drivers. How much extra you'll pay Lyft says depends on demand. To check the rates tap the Prime Time icon on the bottom right side of the app s home screen.
Both Uber and Lyft are donating a portion of their New Year s haul to Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Uber will donate $1 from every ride when users enter the promotional code MADDNYE on booking a ride. Lyft will donate $1 for everyone who makes a pledge to get home safe by visiting Lyft.com/NYE.
The Globe is tracking price surges on New Year s Eve. Please tweet your location and the price quoted for your ride with the hashtag bostonsurge.
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