Cars are becoming increasingly expensive, with the cost of vehicle ownership reaching an all-time high. Beyond personal finances, widespread car ownership impacts health and urban environments, contributing to traffic congestion and air pollution.

In response, a new initiative called the One Less Car Challenge is being introduced. This 5-week trial will involve up to 175 participants from the U.S. and Canada who will give up their personal cars in favor of alternative transportation methods such as walking, public transit, cycling, and rideshare.

The challenge targets car owners in Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington D.C., Miami, San Francisco, Toronto, and Vancouver. Interested individuals can apply to participate from July 22 to August 25.

Selected participants will receive $1,000 from Uber to cover the costs of alternative transportation options available through the Uber app. These options include public transit passes, Lime e-bikes and e-scooters, car rentals, and rideshare services.

Participants' experiences will be documented with assistance from the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT), a research consultancy specializing in behavioral science. BIT will measure the impacts of adopting a car-light lifestyle on participants' daily lives.

A similar trial conducted in Australia in 2023 involved 58 participants who gave up their cars for four weeks. The findings indicated that most car trips could be replaced with alternative transport methods.

With nearly 233 million private vehicles on U.S. roads—80 million of which are driven less than ten miles daily—the One Less Car Challenge aims to demonstrate that reducing reliance on personal vehicles is feasible. This shift could lead to financial savings and reduced emissions while contributing to more livable cities.

Eligible individuals interested in participating must complete a survey linked from the application page and meet specific criteria such as residing in one of the target cities and having legal permission to drive. Participants must also have a smartphone capable of running mobile apps required for the study.

Uber reserves the right to select participants at its discretion based on survey responses. Submission does not guarantee selection for participation in the trial.