Let’s rewind our clocks back to the last time we logged on to the Uber Technologies Inc. (NYSE:UBER) app, shall we? It could be minutes, hours, or in some cases, days before you read this article.
It’s unlikely it was longer than that since ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft Inc. (NASDAQ:LYFT) have become a staple in modern life, offering even driverless cabs in 2026 like the ones from Alphabet Inc.‘s (NASDAQ:GOOGL) (NASDAQ:GOOG) Waymo in some cities.
However, when was the last time you got on to the app and wondered, “Have I been waiting longer for my Uber to arrive, or am I overthinking this?” If you regularly take ride-hailing services to commute to school or work, you may also question the fares. “Did my Uber always cost this much?”
Alas, you may not be the only one with these questions; at least that’s what this research by a Columbia Business School executive and adjunct professor, Len Sherman, cited in a report by Business Insider on Wednesday, seeks to prove.
Uber Fares and Wait Times Have Gone Up
According to the report, Sherman’s analysis found that the time between when Uber matched riders with drivers and the cab’s arrival had increased 19% between Q1 2023 and Q1 2026. In the same period, Uber’s pricing also saw a jump. According to the analysis, prices per mile were up 53%.
Sherman’s claims in the report were denied by Uber and the brand said that the idea that the company was able to maximize profits by increasing its take from fares was “false,” while Sherman said in the report that Uber was charging riders “more,” but paying its drivers “less.”
The study relies on driver data and does not include the time riders spend waiting to be matched with drivers on the Uber platform.
Sherman compiled 37,500 trips across Miami, Buffalo, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston and Tampa. Riders saw wait times increase in five of these six cities between 2023 and 2026, but wait times declined slightly in Tampa, the study said. Sherman says Uber’s wait times could impact its relationship with its customer base.
Uber’s Job Cuts, Robotaxi Expansion
The Dara Khosrowshahi-led company announced last month that it was cutting about 3,300 jobs, or 10% of its workforce, as part of a restructuring designed to simplify the company and redirect resources toward growth, innovation and autonomous mobility. Uber’s layoffs reflected the first victims of the AI era, according to investor Ross Gerber, co-founder of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth Management.
Meanwhile, Uber has been expanding its autonomous driving pursuits in the form of partnerships with automakers, as well as autonomous driving technology companies. Uber expects to commit more than $10 billion over the coming years to bring autonomous vehicles to market at scale. Uber will also begin offering Robotaxis on its platform in Japan in late 2026.
Check out more of Benzinga’s Future Of Mobility coverage by following this link.
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