Uber says it’s plugging gaps in L.A County public transit system

Uber might want to replace your car, but it’s not ready to replace Los Angeles County’s buses and trains. At least, not yet.

The ride-hailing company, which connects riders with drivers via a mobile app, said on Thursday it sees itself as complementary to the area’s existing public transportation infrastructure, helping close “gaps” in people’s commute by getting them to and from public transportation hubs.

To gauge how commuters were using the service, the company used its own internal data to look at trips that started or ended within a quarter mile of a Metro station over a one-month period in the city of Los Angeles. The company found a quarter of rides in the city were during commuting hours, and 22% of L.A. trips taken near Metro stations took place between 7 and 10 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Uber’s findings are based on its own research; it did not collaborate with the county transit officials in Los Angeles County.

Twitter: @traceylien