Photo by Mike

UberX riders are now shelling out a bit more money in the District as the carsharing giant increased its minimum fare by nearly 20 percent.

Uber raised the cost from $5.35 to $6.35 on August 19, an Uber spokesperson told DCist.

In a blog post yesterday, the company said that it’s raised minimum fares in 24 cities across the country based on drivers’ feedback. “We know that short rides can add up, and a seemingly small change like this one can make a difference for your earnings over time,” the company said, noting that other recent enhancements for drivers include getting paid instantly, playing music without commercials, and finding the nearest gas station.

Passengers who are using uberX “as an alternative commuting option” instead of taking it for short trips will likely not feel the effects of the increase, an Uber spokesperson told The Washington Post, which first reported the hike.

The increases come amid several lawsuits in which drivers have sued Uber over wages.

Meanwhile in D.C., Uber launched Pooling Together, a yearlong initiative to combat travel delays due to Metro’s SafeTrack plan. Part of the program includes an extension of its existing UberPOOL option, which lets strangers ride together for lower fees. The service has been expanded to the entire D.C. region, instead of its previous coverage of the District, Arlington, Alexandria, and Reagan National and Dulles International airports.

And new changes “won’t impact riders using uberPOOL at all, however, drivers will still see this increase reflected whether they are taking an uberPOOL ride or an uberX ride,” and Uber spokesperson says.