By Medha Godbole Singh
To those who have always loved reading but have been unable to pursue it because life happened, or to those who simply cannot stop reading wherever they are, here’s a delightful bit of news. Uber and Penguin Random House India have recently joined hands for a month-long #UberReads campaign in Delhi National Capital Region. This is a path-breaking collaboration conceptualised to encourage reading over doom scrolling during commute. All this sounds amazing, but how will it work?
For starters Uber has launched the EV Shuttle Bus service for daily commute in Delhi National Capital Region. Those who book a ride with Uber will find a plethora of popular titles from Penguin available on board. Whether it is fiction or biographies, self-help or mystery, there is something for everyone as these buses are stocked with more than eighty titles.
These books will be the perfect companions for travellers on long commutes, sometimes even riddled with traffic jams. Helping people rediscover, or perhaps just discover, the joy of reading is the sole purpose of this initiative. And Uber’s state-of-the art transportation solution, intertwined with Penguin’s inimitable literary heritage, will make sure that the commuters have a fulfilling and unique experience. All you have to do is book your Uber shuttle ride through the Uber app. Riders can reserve seats up to a week in advance.
These #UberReads branded EV buses will ply more than fifty predefined routes in Noida, Delhi and Gurgaon. They will also cover some of the most travelled routes between business districts and large residential areas. As the journey begins, riders can pick a book of their choice and step into the magical world of words, transcending the chaos outside. But remember, it is mandatory to put the book back before getting off. So far, according to Uber, it has 40,000 active users.
This campaign could also boost the people’s preference for public transport, which would bode well for the environment and infrastructure. Talking about the campaign, Gaurav Shrinagesh, CEO – India, SEA & MENA; Penguin Random House said that the company was thrilled to partner with Uber in this innovative initiative, demonstrating that reading can happen anywhere, even on the go. This partnership is a testament to the creative possibilities when two brands come together with a shared vision.
With books for company, it will definitely be “Bon Voyage” for Delhi NCR residents riding on these shuttle buses.