CINCINNATI — With summer quickly approaching, teens are looking for ways to get out and have fun. One ride-sharing company is looking to make it easier for them to get around.
Mike Fronimos enjoys mentoring the next generation.
“Having the ability, for me, to have that short time with a young person to help mentor them, to talk to them, to coach them, to listen to them is huge,” said Fronimos.
As a ride share driver, he might have the opportunity to do that even more.
That’s because Uber is rolling out teen accounts, which would allow teens to use a family profile to book a ride.
“I know Lyft is looking at something similar, so having that where the parents can administer it or monitor it as well is huge,” he said.
The key in all of it is keeping teens safe. The accounts will have live trip tracking and parents can even contact the driver directly. Only experienced and highly rated drivers will be assigned these rides.
“It’s something huge to make sure that all my riders are safe, especially when they’re teenagers, late at night, or it’s a single woman that I’m picking up,” he said.
As of next Monday, Uber will make teen accounts available in 14 cities, including Cincinnati, Columbus and Dayton. Although Fronimos drives with Lyft, he said he likes the idea and believes it’s a great way to keep teens protected, while also getting them to where they need to go.
“I think the kids are ultimately safe,” he said. “You hear horror stories across the country, but that’s with any profession and any job.”
