Free ride-sharing app comes to campus
Tip Whip is a ride sharing app for college students where your only payment is tipping the driver.
Central Michigan University is one of the first schools in Michigan to have Tip Whip, a ride-sharing app, circulating on campus.
Tip Whip is the first ride-sharing app made specifically for college students with no set ride fees. The app was created in 2014 on the University of Maine’s campus and is slowly making its way to schools across the country.
Spencer Wood, CEO of Tip Whip, wanted to create something that was cheaper than competing companies, but could still allow college students to make a little money, said Emilee Warren, Tip Whip campus manager at CMU.
“Tip Whip is an app like Uber or Lyft — but instead of having fairs where you have to pay, you only tip your driver,” said Warren, a Flushing junior. “This makes it cheaper than Uber because there are no serge fees, where if everyone is demanding a ride, drivers can charge more.”
There are two separate apps: one for drivers and one for those being driven. Users of both apps must be CMU students and have a valid CMU email to sign up or register to be a driver. The app is only available to college students Warren said.
Before becoming a driver, students must answer a series of questions and undergo a background check conducted by Tip Whip. After that, their cars must meet certain criteria before they can take assignments. Car criteria includes:
• Four working seat belts
• Proof of insurance
• Proof of registration
• Valid license plate
The application process takes at least one full business day to complete. Students must be 18 years or older to become a driver.
On the main app, all students must do is type in where they want to go and select a tip amount. The tipping page also shows how much other ride sharing services would charge. There is an option to select a specific driver, but most drivers are assigned according to proximity. Once a driver is assigned, students get text messages verifying and updating them on the location of their ride. For those looking to be picked up, green cars on the app represent drivers in their area.
All rides are to be within the Mount Pleasant city limit and available anytime throughout the day.
Macomb sophomore Kristina Slifco called the app ingenious.
“It’s a more trusting version of a taxi,” Slifco said. “As much as college students have the reputation of not tipping, many of us survive off of tips and are more than willing to give back to others.”
Drivers not only get to keep their tips, but also receive a weekly check from sponsors. Sponsors give money to the Tip Whip corporation to distribute to drivers Warren said. This ensures that if students do not get tipped for driving they still get paid. As of right now, CMU sponsors are unknown, but previous big-name sponsors include Red Bull and McDonalds.
“You can tip instead of paying way too much and those driving still get paid even if their passengers don’t tip well,” said Coldwater sophomore Gillian Heim. “It seems like a win-win to me.”
