The network exists for non-pooled rides as well. Riders don't have to wait as long if there are more drivers, and drivers don't have to drive as far to pick up a ride if there are more passengers. The increased efficiencies allow prices to be lower as well.

Do that many people share rides with strangers in Uber? I never have.

I can tell you that as a driver, about ~25% of my ride requests in Toronto are Pool requests.

We also have Express Pool where you get picked up / dropped off at some walkable distance from your actual origin/destination to make it even cheaper for the consumer and more efficient for drivers.

At one point Uber was even competing with the bus / streetcar with a special ride type where you would have to be picked up or dropped off at specific points along one street but they discontinued this.

I would definitely consider these sorts of shared rides as a moat.

I thought that promo was only during a weekend subway shutdown.

Just looked at an Uber trip in Toronto, and the breakdown is:

Express Pool: $8.44

Pool: $11.25

UberX: $17.38

This is great info, thank you and i agree with your conclusion.

RU kidding Uber pool and Lyft line rides are often cheaper than public transportation!

It's often about a third cheaper and some people get it as part of commuter bennifits in leiu of parking.