With the expansion the Uber app now available throughout entire state
Expansion of Uber to bring earning opportunities
for drivers; affordable transportation options for residents
ILLINOIS -— Today, Uber announced it plans to expand its rides platforms to 39 additional counties
throughout Illinois starting Wednesday, October 7th, 2020. With this expansion, the company will offer
Illinois residents access to reliable and affordable transportation options and prospective drivers the
ability to flexibly earn extra money on their own schedule. Powered by Uber’s innovative technology,
encouraging shared responsibility, and including guidance from health experts, Uber has implemented
new measures designed to help protect the health and safety of everyone who uses the platform.
“We are thrilled to make Uber available throughout the state of Illinois,” said David Shapir, Uber’s General
Manager for Illinois. “Whether you need an affordable ride to the grocery store or are looking to earn extra
money on your own schedule, all Illinoisians will now have access to the Uber platform. We know these
are uncertain times and over the last few months, our tech and safety teams have been hard at work
building new product features that help protect everyone, every time they use Uber.”
Uber’s expansion covers much of northwest and southern Illinois, including the following counties:
Northwest IL
● Bureau
● Carroll
● Fulton
● Hancock
● Henderson
● Jo Daviess
● Knox
● Lee
● Marshall
● McDonough
● Putnam
● Stark
● Warren
● Whiteside
Southern IL
● Alexander
● Bond
● Clay
● Clinton
● Crawford
● Edwards
● Effingham
● Fayette
● Gallatin
● Hardin
● Jasper
● Jefferson
● Johnson
● Lawrence
● Marion
● Massac
● Pope
● Pulaski
● Randolph
● Richland
● Union
● Wabash
● Washington
● Wayne
● White
Riders can learn more about creating an account here and can get price estimates for UberX and UberXL
– affordable rides for a larger group. Residents interested in flexible earning opportunities on their own
time can sign up at uber.com/drive.
Before anyone can drive with Uber, they must undergo a multi-step safety screen, including being
checked for driving violations, impaired driving, violent crime, and other checks. In addition, Uber
rescreens drivers every year1 and uses technology to look for issues in between.
Uber is actively monitoring the coronavirus situation and, working with health experts, the company has
leveraged its technology and invested in the safety of drivers and riders during the pandemic. The
company made a $50 million commitment to provide drivers with PPE and recently launched a
partnership with Clorox to distribute thousands of Clorox wipes to drivers in major cities which included
nearly 200,000 distributed in Chicago.
As Illinois continues to enforce statewide safety measures and adjusts to the new normal, Uber has
adapted its policies and features to help riders and drivers stay healthy together. Consistent with the US
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations, masks and face-coverings are
mandatory for both riders and drivers alike. We are leveraging technology to promote compliance with
this policy: drivers are prompted to take a selfie showing that they are wearing a mask before every go
online. and riders who are reported for not complying with the face mask requirements will need to take a
selfie before their next trip. Drivers also must complete Uber’s Go Online Checklist to confirm that they’ve
taken certain steps that help stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Uber has also been providing
educational materials that were developed with the CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO) with
ridesharing in mind about how drivers can clean their vehicles, focusing on high touch surfaces to wipe
down.
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