Surge pricing only kicks in in order to maximize the number of trips that happen and therefore reduce the number of people that are stranded.

As much as I'd love to give everybody a really cheap option, it's just simply not possible in certain sorts of extreme events... I guarantee that our strategy on surge pricing is the optimal way to get as many people home as possible.

In some way, L.A. respects the young guy that's out there just trying to make it happen, but in some ways, they disrespect that, too.

Safety is number one at Uber... so we make sure the system is in place so riders get the safest ride possible.

Think of a world where there is no ride-sharing; people are driving themselves to work. You now have 30 people being served by 30 cars. Those 30 cars are only served 4% of the day; 96% of the day, they're stored somewhere. Around 20% to 30% of our land is taken up just storing these hunks of metal that we drive around in for 4% of the day.

Uber riders are the most affluent, influential people in their cities.