Are Rideshare Drivers Busier During Winter?

Yes and no. People will always need to get where they need to be going, and that is not dependent on what time of year it is. Winter can be very lucrative for rideshare drivers, but it can also be a slow time of year.

Summer is the busier time of year from the standpoint that there are more activities, parties, events, and occasions to go out and about. There are more people wanting to go places, but there are also more rideshare drivers vying for those rides. You will definitely be busier driving in the summer, but you will also have a lot more competition during those months, as well.

Once Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year have passed, winter is the slower season because there are less events and activities to get to. People want to stay in and out of the inclement weather conditions. Not just riders are staying home, but rideshare drivers are too. There are less rideshare drivers on the road, so the drivers who are out and about are able to pick up more rides than they would if competition were as high as it is during the summer months. 

On the other hand, winter can also be a busier season in large and walkable cities. Even when the weather is yucky, people still have to go to their jobs, doctors appointments, run errands, and all the other everyday things we must do. In large, walkable cities people normally walk moderate distances to go places when the weather is nice. When the weather is poor, they are more likely to turn to taxis or rideshare services to take them those distances so they do not have to brave the frigid temperatures. Rideshare drivers won’t have as many long rides, but they will have a lot more shorter rides. Little ones can add up, especially if those passengers are tipping. 

If you are a rideshare driver, you know there are good days and bad days, good times and bad times any time you drive. There are very few guarantees, but if you get out there and try you can make some money! Winter may not be as cushy as the summer months, but there are rides to pick up and people to take places.