Uber announced on Tuesday that it is bringing back its shared rides “UberX Share” in a select number of major cities.

The cities include New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Phoenix, San Diego, Portland, Oregon, Indianapolis and Pittsburgh. UberX Share will allow users to get savings while making a sustainable choice, Uber explained in a release.

Uber believes it’s important to make transportation affordable and accessible when inflation and gas prices are surging. “Affordability is important to making transportation more accessible for more people – especially in the current economic climate,” Uber said.

“Offering more affordable products isn’t just good for customers, it helps build out an ecosystem of affordable, multi-modal transportation – from shared rides, to micro mobility, to public transit, which continues to be a powerful ally to Uber,” Uber added.

To combat its issues with rising gas prices, though, Uber added a 45-55 cent surcharge to its Uber Rides in March that goes straight into drivers' pockets.

Shared rides will only be with rides that are heading in the same direction and Uber says that it will take no more than 8 minutes longer than a normal Uber ride.

Uber got rid of shared rides two years ago when the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic forced there to be reduced contact with others, even though shared rides were a popular option amongst customers when it was offered.

Uber says that it hopes UberX Share will encourage people into “meeting new friends and other fun chance encounters.”

“We believe UberX Share, and the improvements we’ve made for drivers and riders, will make it better than ever,” Uber added.

Uber noted that it has plans to expand to more cities this summer.