You're searching for an Uber or Lyft on the respective ride-hailing app and you see a car icon crawling nearby ... but even though it's temptingly close, that doesn't mean you'll be matched with that car.

Uber uses "batch matching" to connect riders with drivers. That means Uber doesn't just find the closest ride to you; instead, the ride-hailing company takes into account the most optimized ride for everyone around you. 

OK, but what does that mean? If you've ever requested the shared carpool ride that Uber calls Pool or Express Pool, you're familiar with the one- to two-minute waiting period during which Uber's matching algorithm is optimizing across the whole, not just the individual ride request. That's how they determine the best matching for the whole group of people — Pool or not — requesting rides at that same time, or the "batch" of riders requesting rides.  Read more...

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