Uber didn't start out with grand ambitions to cut congestion and pollution. But as the company took off, co-founder Travis Kalanick wondered if there was a way to get people using Uber along the same routes to share rides, reducing costs and carbon footprint along the way. The result: uberPOOL, the company's carpooling service, which in its first eight months took 7.9 million miles off the roads and 1,400 metric tons of carbon dioxide out of the air in Los Angeles. Now, Kalanick says carpooling could work for commuters in the suburbs, too. "With the technology in our pockets today, and a little smart regulation," he says, "we can turn every car into a shared car, and we can reclaim our cities starting today."

Travis Kalanick: Uber's plan to get more people into fewer cars

Uber's plan to get more people into fewer cars

The jitney, a 1914 car-sharing precursor, once offered rides for a nickel, showing early potential for shared transportation.

Uber's introduction of uberPOOL significantly reduced miles driven and CO2 emissions, showcasing the power of carpooling.

Uber's inception of uberPOOL significantly reduced LA's carbon emissions, cutting 1,400 metric tons in just eight months.