Pet project

Uber unleashes new service in Austin allowing passengers to ride with pets

Jo's 16th Annual Pet Parade in Austin French Bulldog Rob

Pups can ride along in Uber beginning October 16.

Photo by Shelley Neuman

Ride-hailing service Uber is making it easier for Austin customers to bring their dogs, cats, and other pets along for the ride.

On October 16, Uber is introducing its new Uber Pet feature for customers in Austin, as well as Denver, Nashville, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Tampa Bay. Uber announced the pilot project last week.

Why was Austin chosen? “We launch pilots in cities where we see a combination of potential need and an opportunity to continue developing features based on our customers’ feedback,” Uber spokesman Steve Imm says.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt that Austin regularly is recognized as one of the best friends of man’s best friend. Dogtime.com places Austin at No. 4 on its list of the country’s dog-friendliest cities, while personal finance website WalletHub ranks Austin as the fourth most pet-friendly city in the U.S.

When searching for a ride, a user of the Uber app will be able to choose the Uber Pet option to locate vehicles whose drivers accept pet passengers. Picking the Uber Pet feature will add $3 to $5 to the cost of a ride, The Daily Dot reports.

“We built this feature to give riders peace of mind so they know they’ll be able to arrive at their destination with their pet, without any interruptions or surprises,” Uber says.

Drivers will be able to steer clear of trips with non-service animals by opting out of Uber Pet trips in the Uber app for drivers. Riders with service animals won’t need to use the Uber Pet feature and won’t be assessed a surcharge.

pets transportation

WFH life

Austin plugs in as 2nd cheapest large U.S. city for remote workers

Photo by Lewis Guapo on Unsplash

Working remotely in Austin is far more affordable than many other U.S. cities.

Austin's thriving telework industry is already known for being among the most prominent in the country, and as it turns out, it's one of the most affordable, too. A recent study by online retailer The Perfect Rug has revealed Austin is the No. 2 cheapest U.S. city center for remote work.

The report ranked the top 10 largest U.S. cities based on population data, the number of coworking spaces and cafes per capita, statewide average internet speeds, average apartment rent prices, and more.

Austin falls second to the far west Texas city of El Paso (No. 1), and is followed by Houston in the No. 3 spot.

When it comes to finding the best place to work remotely, Austin has an abundance of options including coffee shops, coworking spaces, and local library branches. According to the report's data, there are about six coworking spaces and 26 cafes per capita in the city, but Austinites know best that there is a much wider variety of places to work from "home" than whatever number a study determines.

The average internet speed in Texas is 425.9 mbps (megabits per second), which is the fourth-highest internet speed out of the six total states (and the District of Columbia) mentioned in the study. Pennsylvania, Washington, and Washington, D.C. all have faster average internet speeds, at 430.8, 451, and 473.8 mpbs, respectively.

The Perfect Rug also calculated the average costs for meals, coffee, and monthly rent in Austin:

$1,467 per month – Average apartment rent cost in central Austin
$21 per hour – Average cost for a desk at a coworking space
$16.99 – Average cost for a meal
$5.36 – Average cost for a coffee

Furthermore, Austin-based remote workers are technically saving on fuel costs compared to those who have to commute into the city daily for their jobs.

A spokesperson for The Perfect Rug said Texas cities like El Paso, Austin, and Houston are far more popular for "budget-conscious" remote workers partially because rent costs are far lower in comparison to many other U.S. cities.

"On the other hand, cities like Washington, D.C., and Seattle, while more expensive, compensate with faster internet speeds and a higher density of workspaces, which can enhance the remote work experience," the spokesperson said. "Finding the right balance between cost and amenities is key for remote workers seeking both productivity and affordability."

Elsewhere in Texas, San Antonio ranked as the fifth most affordable city for teleworkers, followed by Dallas (No. 7).

The top 10 cheapest U.S. cities for remote workers are:

No. 1 – El Paso, Texas
No. 2 – Austin, Texas
No. 3 – Houston, Texas
No. 4 – Seattle, Washington
No. 5 – San Antonio, Texas
No. 6 – Washington, D.C.
No. 7 – Dallas, Texas
No. 8 – Denver, Colorado
No. 9 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
No. 10 – Nashville, Tennessee

austin reports rankings remote work