Uber, the popular ride-booking service that competes with taxis using a smartphone app, has added Fort Wayne as a city where its services are provided.

The company will offer UberX, a low cost service with a $2 base fare plus 20 cents per minute and/or $1.50 per mile. It officially launches in Fort Wayne this afternoon. To celebrate, users can enjoy a special promotion using the code FWNWIFREE which is good for three free rides of up to $20 per trip until May 14.

The service is provided through a smartphone app available for both iPhone and Android platforms. Users can set a pickup location and destination address and a driver will come pick them up. The driver’s location, name and car details can be tracked. There is also a fare estimate feature.

Some questions regarding the safety of ride services such as Uber have arisen after criminal incidents have occurred in cities around the globe. According to Uber’s safety criteria, drivers undergo background checks including county, federal and multi-state checks, a national sex offender registry screen, Social Security trace and ongoing motor vehicle record checks. Another safety feature for users is that once a ride request is confirmed, the picture, name, vehicle type, license plate number and rating of the driver are given.

Governor Mike Pence signed a bill recently that will allow services such as Uber to expand throughout the state.

Uber was founded in 2009 and has since expanded to 57 countries worldwide. For more information on Uber, visit the company’s website at www.uber.com. Applications for drivers in Fort Wayne are still being accepted.

Source: WANE