In an ongoing effort to perfect the art of the pickup, Uber just updated its app to allow riders to slightly alter their pickup location mid-request. If you accidentally say you’re in the wrong place, the app will let you essentially edit your pickup location even when the driver is already on his way. The update will only be available on iOS in the US, UK, and Canada to start out with.
Here’s how it works: if your driver is en route but you realize he’s headed to the wrong location, tap the “edit” button and confirm a new pickup location. Slight adjustments are what’s possible; it won’t let you pick a new location clear across town, for example. The driver is then sent the updated location and can re-route appropriately. This works differently depending on whether the driver is using in-app navigation or a third-party navigation app. Uber says it tested this feature in a handful of cities and found that it led to fewer canceled trips and headaches experienced by both drivers and riders.
“The pickup is a core part of the Uber experience and we’re always looking for ways to make it as painless as possible for both riders and drivers,” Rachel Holt, head of operations for Uber in North America, and software engineer Ryan Yu say in a blog post. “This simple fix gives riders more control over their pickup experience and saves everyone time and avoidable headaches.”
Here’s what drivers will see when the pickup location is adjusted: