RIDEGURU
Angela Taylor (RedANT)
Ride Scholar from Seattle
1072 Rider DriverActivity
Posts by RedANT
No posts found.Featured Answers by RedANT
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The Uber driver app in the Google Play store has a rating of 4.4/5 stars. I posted a comment/rating on Google Play:
Me: "If drivers have a 4.4/5 star rating, Uber calls us failures and deactivates us. Why is this rating acceptable or different?"
Uber: "Hi RedANT. This doesn't sound right. We want to take a closer look into this for you. Please send a quick note to t.uber.con/drivercontact so we can connect."
(Needless to say, I did NOT contact them with my real information)
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Old system:
$25 trip @ 2x surge = Passenger pays $50 (driver made approx 65% of the total = $32.50, and Uber/Lyft made approx 35% of the total = $17.50)
New system:
$25 trip @ 2x surge = Passenger still pays $50 (Driver makes 65% of $25 = $16.25 + a $2.50 fixed "surge" = $18.75 earned by driver. Uber/Lyft collect the balance of $50 - $18.75 paid to driver = $31.25 = approx 63%) Driver pays for 100% of their car payment, insurance, gas, and maintenance. Uber/Lyft does nothing but change policies and adjust app settings to increase their share. Passengers get fleeced.* Please note that all numbers are approximate, and will vary greatly depending on the area you're in.
** Driver pay was previously paid based on a per minute rate + mileage rate + surge multiplier.
Pay is now based on a per minute rate + mileage rate + a flat surge fee that is a fraction of the former multiplier payout. This change effectively increases Uber and Lyfts share of the fares significantly, taking money out of driver pockets and increasing company revenue. Regardless, I'd bet that Uber and Lyft will still post huge Q1 losses as they head into their respective IPOs.
This is why drivers are pissed. (And rightfully so)
I am making a profit. It may not be as big a profit as I made years ago, but it's still better than not driving at all.
"The company also claimed in the suit that the city did not have any evidence the cap would impact congestion..."
What do you think happens when you put tens of thousands of vehicles on the road?
After a game or concert, the streets are filled with thousands of vehicles and streets get congested. The same principle applies to rideshare companies.
Drivers have little reason to try to manipulate surge. If you're paying a $50 fare with a 2x surge, you're paying $100. In LA the driver is making what, 60 cents per mile + 13 cents per minute and that "surge" adds maybe $6-8 to the total.
30 miles x 60 cents /mile = $18.
50 minutes x 13 cents = $6.50
Add $8 "flat surge" and the driver made approx $32.50 while Uber/Lyft made approx $67.50
On surge fares it's not uncommon for Uber and Lyft to walk with 50-65% of the total paid. The driver's aren't your enemy. The enemy is the rideshare company that shook you down for more money while cutting driver pay.
The rideshare companies need to enforce their rules regarding unaccompanied minors and car seats, and they need to properly compensate drivers for their wasted time to give drivers an incentive to actually report such violations.
I had one attempted drug deal, but when they were at their quick stop, I quickly ended the ride and bolted.
I've had MANY hookers over the years, though. They've never caused problems, and they almost always tip. (Of all the hooker runs I've done over the years, 100% of them were using Lyft)
I'll agree to a short test ride after it's been adequately tested.
Adequate testing = REQUIRING all autonomous vehicle engineers and programmers, + all members of their Board of Directors + ALL OF THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS to use autonomous vehicles as their primary form of transportation for a minimum of 5 years.
No better way to ensure the absolute highest product quality.
Drivers pay 100% of the cost of our vehicles. (and absorb 100% of the depreciated vehicle costs)
We pay for gas. (@ $3.50+ /gal)
We pay for maintenance.
We pay for insurance.
We do 100% of the work.
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Uber maintains an app.
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The above considered, how much do you think Uber should make per transaction? 10%? 20%? 30%?
In reality, Uber routinely takes a MINIMUM of 35%, and it isn't uncommon for them to take up to 65% On average, taxis charge approx $2.50 /mile, but the average rideshare driver gets paid 60 cents a mile, i.e. rideshare drivers make, on average, less than 25% of what taxis charge. Personally speaking, if drivers are going to absorb all the expenses, I don't think that it's unreasonable for drivers to expect at least 70-80% of fares paid.
Do you think that's fair?
Driver pay has been slashed over the years, and what I make now is approx 40% LESS than what I did just a few years ago. Why is our pay lower? It's because Uber and Lyft slash driver pay to subsidize rider fares to increase their market share.
How bad have things become? In California, a large number of drivers are fighting for legislation that would make them MINIMUM WAGE EMPLOYEES. If fast food workers had to use their personal vehicles for work, do you think that it wold be fair to pay them minimum wages?
1. You may be an independent contractor, but you are also a licensed business entity that's required to comply with the ADA and non-discrimination laws. If you discriminate, YOU, the business entity, are liable and can be sued.
2. Uber and Lyft both have very strict rules prohibiting discrimination. If you refuse service as required under the ADA, or if you choose to illegally discriminate based on race, religion, sex, etc, you will be PERMANENTLY BANNED from that platform. No arbitration. No appeal. Terminated.
Would you have preferred a $15 estimate and been billed $25?
That's why it's called a Fare E-S-T-I-M-A-T-E The amount can vary depending on s lot of different factors, like demand at the time the time your ride is needed.
Your most accurate guesstimate would have been to approach the taxi company directly rather than seeking an estimate at a 3rd party website.
Yes, it is another Lyft money grab.
Passengers are still charged primetime with multipliers, but drivers get compensated with flat rate incentives if they accept rides within their "personal power zones."
Tip rate varies depending on time of year, distance of trip, fare, destination, whether or not the passenger paid surge/primetime, etc. Some days 50% tip. Other days that number drops to 10%.
VERY different from taxis that charge twice as much and get tipped 90% of the time.
In most cases you can spot legitimate service animals. If you suspect the dog isn't, you can ask "Is that an ADA service animal" and "what is it trained to do."
If they say that it's for emotional support, you CAN refuse the ride, just be damn sure to have that conversation on dashcam, immediately contact Uber/Lyft to notify them that the animal you refused was NOT an ADA service animal, and when they seek clarification via email, attach a copy of the dashcam video to prove your point. Pictures also help. I have refused several "non legit" animals this way over the years and am still fine. Just make sure to cover your ass.
I generally don't mind transporting non-support dogs, however if the passenger lies, is belligerent or combative I will refuse. If the animal is dirty, wet or mangy I may also refuse during busy hours because a dirty/wet/shedding dog can put me offline to clean during rush and cost me a lot of money.
A couple of years ago, when I was a noob, I was nice and agreed to transport a dog. After dropping them off I picked up my next passenger, businessman heading to the airport, and mid-trip he exclaimed "WTF? I'm covered with dog hair!" His business suit was COVERED in fur, and this guy was headed to a client meeting. I received 1*, complaint about a "dirty car" and no tip for my troubles.
For clarification, the service animal restriction only applies to ADA service dogs, NOT emotional support animals.
Oh really? Tell me more about yourself...
I've been driving for more than 40 years, and in that time I've been in ZERO accidents and received ZERO tickets. Tell me how much of a hazard I am compared to the 20 somethings with multiple accidents and who habitually drive and text, etc.
That's partially right. The driver can refuse to transport you for any reason EXCEPT having a ADA service animal, or because of your race religion, sex, age, etc.
1. Download an app.
2. Create an account.
3. Order a ride.
4. Once a driver arrives, head to your destination. Yay!
Trust is a two way street. You're requesting a ride in my car, sitting behind me, and you think that you're the one that needs trust? Really?
For every over hyped media story about dangerous drivers, there are dozens of untold stories of drivers being assaulted, and even killed, by the people in their back seat. Your driver is much more at risk than you are.
If you don't trust drivers, how can you possibly justify requesting a ride in our cars?
This baffles me as well. Riders demand safety. They make a big deal about "what's my name" and other crap like that, but they refuse to extend the same courtesies to their drivers. My safety in my vehicle comes first.