By Michael Hill
Correspondent
This morning, Jonathan Kurowski — banker, husband, father — left his two cars at home and took the first free ride in a pilot program between Uber and the city of Summit.
Summit’s mayor and council president welcomed Kurowski’s arrival at this New Jersey Transit station.
“This was super easy. Now, I’ve got no strings attached,” Kurowski said.
Kurowski usually drives here and parks in the city-owned garage a block from the train station. So do hundreds of other commuters and at nearby garages. Summit says the demand far exceeds available parking spaces. So, last year, the city reached out to Uber and this morning the two launched their solution.
“We are extremely pleased to announce Summit’s new ridesharing program, the first of its kind in the state of New Jersey and in fact the entire nation,” said Summit Mayor Nora Radest.
The pilot program is designated for 100 commuters with parking permits. Permits that cost $4 a day, which is the same round trip price of the Uber ride to the train station and back home.
“We want people to ask, ‘Why should I take my car if I can ride with Uber instead?'” Summit Council President Mike McTernan said.
Here’s how the city explains the six-month partnership. Commuters in the pilot program take Uber for free because they’ve already paid for parking. The city subsidizes the rest of the actual $7 Uber round trip ride because it says it anticipates other drivers will pay to occupy the vacant parking spaces.
“This is a virtual groundbreaking moment for Summit. We are leading the state and the nation by introducing a unique parking solution that does not involve using taxpayers’ dollars to build an expensive parking garage or a lot. As I’ve said before, this is a win-win for our local businesses, commuters and taxpayers,” McTernan said.
The city’s banking on more parking spaces enticing visitors and shoppers.
“That’s the plan,” Radest said.
“We have a good problem so far as people want to visit Summit. Summit’s unique. We have more people coming into Summit per day than actually going to New York,” McTernan said.
The Leistners already had figured out the value of Uber.
“My wife is commuting as well into the city so this morning she took the Uber, I took the car. If we can’t coordinate, then one of us takes Uber,” said commuter Ben Leistner.
For others, the arrangement could lead to some big changes.
“I’m coming to that time where I’m thinking about whether I need to buy a new car, so I have been thinking like options like Uber,” said Devin Rogerino.
Kurowski thinks he could even get rid of one of his family’s cars, avoid time-consuming congestion getting in the garage and more.
“Or even weather wise if it’s raining I don’t have to walk two blocks over to get my car,” Kurowski said.
The city says it’s convinced this pilot will succeed at easing congestion and will expand and become a model for other towns seeking a parking solution that doesn’t include spending millions on building garages.