Welcome to the 21st Century of hitching a ride: it's called SideCar, a ride-sharing smartphone app.
You plug in a destination and it tells you if someone can pick you up, suggesting a "donation" determined by the passenger.
"It's all cashless, it's done on a credit card so at the end of the trip the passenger simply selects the amount that they'd like to donate to the driver," co-founder Nick Allen explained.
What's different about this app is that the drivers aren't professional cabbies. Meaning, if I want to drive I could. All I need is a license, a car, and a clean background.
Allen said the company does background checks.
"We predominantly use Lexis-Nexis," he said. "We've given well over 100,000 rides and haven't had a single incident."
You can even check out your driver.
But that doesn't make it foolproof, said security expert William Vorlicek.
"Right now in my mind there's a lot of holes in this," Vorlicek said. "Somebody could use this to transport drugs."
Sidecar said its No. 1 priority is safety. But one obstacle in New York City could be the law.
The city's Taxi and Limousine Commission said that any driver accepting payment for point-to-point rides must be licensed with the TLC.
If anything, SideCar proves that people want choices, said Christina Warren, a tech analyst for the website Mashable.
"I think this is yet another example and proves the TLC needs to get on the ball, because this proves people really like other ways of finding and arranging transportation," Warren said.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 8:10 AM EDT2013-05-22 12:10:21 GMT
Commuter rail service from Connecticut to New York City, along with Amtrak service between Boston and New York, was back on schedule Wednesday morning on one of the nation's oldest and most heavily traveled railways.
Commuter rail service from Connecticut to New York City, along with Amtrak service between Boston and New York, was back on schedule Wednesday morning on one of the nation's oldest and most heavily traveled railways.
Monday, May 20 2013 5:58 AM EDT2013-05-20 09:58:10 GMT
The Connecticut Department of Transportation and Metro-North Railroad released the following information regarding service on the New Haven commuter rail line
The Connecticut Department of Transportation and Metro-North Railroad released the following information regarding service on the New Haven commuter rail line
Sunday, May 19 2013 8:05 PM EDT2013-05-20 00:05:54 GMT
Amtrak announced Sunday night that service remains suspended between New York and New Haven, with limited Amtrak service available between Boston and New Haven.
Amtrak announced Sunday night that service remains suspended between New York and New Haven, with limited Amtrak service available between Boston and New Haven.
Sunday, May 19 2013 3:14 PM EDT2013-05-19 19:14:07 GMT
Authorities say one person is dead and another was injured when the vehicle they were in ran off the road and crashed into Huntington harbor on Long Island Saturday evening.
Authorities say one person is dead and another was injured when the vehicle they were in ran off the road and crashed into Huntington harbor on Long Island Saturday evening.
Sunday, May 19 2013 12:24 AM EDT2013-05-19 04:24:33 GMT
Officials in Connecticut say it was amazing that there were no fatalities or more injuries after two Metro-North trains collided around 6 p.m. in Fairfield Friday evening.
Officials in Connecticut say it was amazing that there were no fatalities or more injuries after two Metro-North trains collided around 6 p.m. in Fairfield Friday evening.
Friday, May 17 2013 9:35 AM EDT2013-05-17 13:35:33 GMT
Danbury's police chief says four officers have violated the city's police rules governing rudeness and civility during a routine traffic stop and that the matter has been referred to state prosecutors.
Danbury's police chief says four officers have violated the city's police rules governing rudeness and civility during a routine traffic stop and that the matter has been referred to state prosecutors.
Friday, May 17 2013 7:05 AM EDT2013-05-17 11:05:50 GMT
Thirty-seven claims have been filed in federal court in Newark over the crash of a commuter ferry in New York City that left dozens of passengers injured.
Thirty-seven claims have been filed in federal court in Newark over the crash of a commuter ferry in New York City that left dozens of passengers injured.
Friday, May 24 2013 6:29 AM EDT2013-05-24 10:29:05 GMT
AP photo
Actress Amanda Bynes was arrested Thursday for allegedly smoking marijuana in the lobby of her Midtown Manhattan building and throwing a marijuana bong out of a window, said police.
Actress Amanda Bynes was arrested Thursday for allegedly smoking marijuana in the lobby of her Midtown Manhattan building and throwing a marijuana bong out of a window, said police.
Thursday, May 23 2013 10:17 PM EDT2013-05-24 02:17:32 GMT
New Jersey officials have seized inventory and demanded records from 29 bars and restaurants, nearly half of them TGI Fridays, that they say sold low-quality liquor to patrons who thought they were buying premium brands.
New Jersey officials have seized inventory and demanded records from 29 bars and restaurants, nearly half of them TGI Fridays, that they say sold low-quality liquor to patrons who thought they were buying premium brands.
Thursday, May 23 2013 10:11 PM EDT2013-05-24 02:11:26 GMT
An Edison, N.J., police officer was arrested and accused of setting fire to the home of a police captain in his department, according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office.
An Edison, N.J., police officer was arrested and accused of setting fire to the home of a police captain in his department, according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office.
Thursday, May 23 2013 10:04 PM EDT2013-05-24 02:04:45 GMT
Former Rep. Anthony Weiner launched his campaign for mayor of New York City this week, but his website seems to indicate he is running for office in Pittsburgh. The stylized and colorized image used in
Former Rep. Anthony Weiner launched his campaign for mayor of New York City this week, but his website seems to indicate he is running for office in Pittsburgh. The stylized and colorized image used in
Thursday, May 23 2013 9:49 PM EDT2013-05-24 01:49:53 GMT
AP photo
President Barack Obama plans to give the Jersey Shore a boost with a post-Memorial Day visit to showcase recovery efforts in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.
President Barack Obama plans to give the Jersey Shore a boost with a post-Memorial Day visit to showcase recovery efforts in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.
Thursday, May 23 2013 8:50 PM EDT2013-05-24 00:50:04 GMT
Heavy downpours sparked flash flooding across the tristate area on Thursday. The National Weather Service issued numerous weather alerts for many counties in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
Heavy downpours sparked flash flooding across the tristate area on Thursday. The National Weather Service issued numerous weather alerts for many counties in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
Thursday, May 23 2013 7:42 PM EDT2013-05-23 23:42:40 GMT
The Bronx Zoo has unveiled its animatronics dinosaur exhibit. The exhibit, called Dinosaur Safari, is something different from the zoo, which is better known for its exhibits of living animals. The ride
The Bronx Zoo has unveiled its exhibit of animatronics. The exhibit, called Dinosaur Safari, is something different from the zoo, which is better known for its exhibits of living animals.
