We did it occasionally starting in HS but with increasing frequency. My kids use my uber account plus always share their location so I always see exactly where they are . It seems safer than taxis or buses in that way.
The people saying 21 to me are crazy. I always say take an uber if your friend has had even one drink at a party. Or how does they get from the airport to their college dorm? Or another example — my kids was downtown for a competition in HS but the hotel rooms were many blocks away. Much rather she take an uber than walk 15 blocks across the city after dark.
My teen son took an uber last week to get to soccer practice because neither of us could take him. We don’t do that often because it’s expensive but if we are really jammed up, it’s a good solution. The other solution involved like 3 public buses.

I don’t use Uber myself so I’d never let my kids take it.

Anonymous wrote:You’re cool with some random man knowing where your young daughter lives? Honestly what are parents even bothering to do for their kids anymore or is it all outsourced?

Yes because I'm not a paranoid freak and not everyone is trying to kidnap your crotch rocket.

You’re cool with some random man knowing where your young daughter lives? Honestly what are parents even bothering to do for their kids anymore or is it all outsourced?

Uber teen starting in 9th grade.

Anonymous wrote:Boys starting in high school, girls only with friends in high school.

+1
My son started the summer before freshman year (14). My daughter I think was a junior (16/17) and only with a boyfriend for awhile. I did a lot of late night pickups because I never wanted her alone (or really even with just girls) in an Uber (or on Metro) in/out of DC at night.

I think her first time in an Uber alone was this year as a freshman in college to/from airport during the day. She Ubers at night in groups.

My kids all started at 13. I would only let them go with a friend/sibling from 13-15 and then alone starting at 16. To me, Uber Teen feels a lot safer than a taxi b/c I have real time info about where they are, the car, etc

Uber has a lot of tracking and safety features. I use them for my parents not my kids but they work well. They have a family thing where you can add kid accounts and have all their information and you can track rides and there is a button on the app to press if you have an issue.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are you asking about ubers and not taxi's?

Yeah, it's OT but I hate how "uber" has totally replace for-hire rides of all kinds. I've seen people standing on a corner watching taxi after taxi go by while waiting for their hailed ride. Seems so dumb. But then I live in the city; I guess if I were going home to Fairfax or something I might think I deserve to ride in a new Corolla over a banged-up old Crown Vic.

... is that why you think we take uber???

I hate that this is reality, but I feel more comfortable letting my DS use Uber than my DD. My DS is 14 and is 5'9", at least 120 lbs and rides public transportation to/from school. He is attentive and knows the city pretty well. My DD, on the other hand, is only 12 and has always been tiny so looks even younger than her age. She also doesn't pay close attention to her surroundings and might not speak up if something is wrong. She may only ever be allowed to ride in an uber if she's with friends and maybe only once she's 15 or 16.

I take Ubers alone quite frequently (I travel for work a lot) and I've never had an issue.

There are times when an Uber makes more sense than driving. I don't want my daughter getting out of a concert/event at a downtown venue (we are not in DC but goes for any city) and walking to the car a few blocks away to a dark parking lot or using a parking garage, for example. These are the times Ubering with Uber kids in groups can make sense.

Former clinic staff in FCPS: several times at different MS, I got AP okay to send a sick kid home in an Uber (both times parents insisted).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does it matter if they are girls or boys? My husband does not want our daughters to take an Uber ever. He even gets nervous when I do it solo. He makes me text him the uber info before I get in.

I think given how busy life is our kids (girls and boys) will need to eventually take Ubers as teens. Obviously not young young kids but by 13 I would be fine with it.

Never. For either gender. Suck it up until they are old enough to drive themselves. Use the money you would've wasted on uber to buy a used car for them.

Just taking an Uber car vs owning a car is cheaper for most people.

Used car prices have been going up quite a bit and then you have term insurance costs, gas and maintenance.

It’s a no brainer if cost is the only consideration.

As an adult, I share my location with my husband or at least one of my kids before I get in any uber. I agree with your husband, it’s good practice for everyone to do this for safety.

I started letting my son take it at 14 with a friend. By 16 he was occasionally taking it alone if he needed a ride. He was over 6 feet tall by then and probably 180+ lbs if that makes a difference.

My daughter is almost 15 and I would be okay if she needed to take it with a friend, not on her own. I don’t know when I’d feel comfortable with her on her own. I’m not always comfortable taking one on my own.

Anonymous wrote:Why are you asking about ubers and not taxi's?

Yeah, it's OT but I hate how "uber" has totally replace for-hire rides of all kinds. I've seen people standing on a corner watching taxi after taxi go by while waiting for their hailed ride. Seems so dumb. But then I live in the city; I guess if I were going home to Fairfax or something I might think I deserve to ride in a new Corolla over a banged-up old Crown Vic.