Exploring Chicago’s Demand for Uber & Lyft

The rapid growth of private transportation network companies (TNC), such as Uber and Lyft, has fundamentally changed how people commute in urban areas. The growing demand has several implications, including but not limited to increased individual efficiency and increased overall congestion. I thought it would be interesting to dig deeper into the topic. Mainly, I wish to answer the following questions:

• Where is the demand at?
• When is the demand highest?
• What factors influence our decision to share a ride with strangers?

The Chicago Data Portal has released data on trips offered by all TNCs in the city of Chicago…