I would love Uber to use this data to propose me options for taking a short walk to cut total travel time.
In some places walking a few hundred meters puts you in a much better position for pick-up. Same thing in destination, propose a location that minimizes total travel time.
Uber sort of does this in some cities with their Express Pool option, where they tack a short walk on to either end of a ride to pick up/drop off you and the other Pool passengers at the same spot.
My entry point to Uber is usually google maps, which does show walking time alongside driving, public transport and ride hailing times.
In cities like London, it’s often half an hour for every option, so the decision comes down to whether it’s raining and how well the tube entrances line up.
I once got off a night bus in Asyut, hailed a cab, hopped in and asked to be taken to the train station. The driver pointed out the window to the giant sign on the building across the street reading “Asyut Railway Station”.
Travel wouldn’t be the same without making silly mistakes like this. It’s where our stories come from.
Uber/lyft routing is screwed for this because all too often drivers heading the wrong way will jump on accepting your ride to beat other drivers. There's been times when I've opened the map, saw dozens of drivers orbiting me like sharks just 1-2 blocks out, yet the driver who accepts my request is the one 5 going on 6 miles away on the highway. Then I have to stand there for 10 minutes while the driver pulls off and turns around then battles through the dozen plus drivers orbiting the neighborhood I'm in.
In some places walking a few hundred meters puts you in a much better position for pick-up. Same thing in destination, propose a location that minimizes total travel time.