One month after Lyft made its debut in Traverse City, ride-hailing service Uber has followed its competitor into the northern Michigan market.

Uber announced on its website it was officially launching in Traverse City as of Tuesday. "Starting October 17, you can download the Uber app to request an uberX or uberXL for a ride all around Traverse City," the company wrote. "Whether it’s date night or time to run some errands, you can sit back, relax and quickly get where you need to go at the touch of a button."

As with Lyft, Uber allows users to hail a ride through the service’s smartphone app. After plugging in their location and destination, users can request and pay for a ride using a credit card stored on the app. No cash is exchanged between driver and passenger. According to Uber, fares are calculated on a per-minute and per-mile basis. "There is the potential for increased fares depending on how many people are looking for a ride in that area," the company states.

To mark its launch, Uber is offering a first ride free - up to $15 one way - to new customers using promo code TRAVERSECITY. The offer is valid through December 15.