RIDEGURU
How far are Uber and Lyft drivers willing to take you?
Posted 5 years, 8 months ago
Posted In
Ask a Driver
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AnonymousRider
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Rider
Ride Master
This is a RideGuru system account that posts popular and commonly asked questions that were submitted on the "Ask a Guru" page. It is a collection of real rider and passenger questions were submitted anonymously.
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Comments
Depends no where you want to go. If it's to a location where I won't be able to pick up another customer (say because that is outside of my home region), it becomes very unattractive all of a sudden.
They call that the "dead leg."
I thought you guys can pick up everywhere. Is that an Uber thing?
Wasn't there a story about how a Lyft driver did a cross country trip and drove in like 16 statements? then wrote a book about it.
For those who don't drive, we do get a notification on the Uber app when the user's trip is longer than 45 minutes. So, just know that if your driver accepts, they are AWARE you are at least going 45 minutes.
Here is the tip: In other words, if your trip is like 45 minutes to 60 minutes, don't worry about asking because the driver already signed up or it.
This is great to know. Thank you.
Just so you know my anonymous passenger that drivers actually prefer long trips because we make most of our money on those. It's the short trips that we dread.
So don't be so shy about taking long trips. They are always welcome. I will go wherever you wat me to go.
Of course, there are times I can't take you. If I am wrapping up a shift for example.
BTW, don't worry about the dead legs (the return trip) either. We usually make up for it on the way out. Sure, it'd be nice to be able to make up for that trip on the way back (while we pay for gas and incur mileage), but I just got a shift where 50% of my time, I was driving.
As far as you want to go. I’ve done a Philly to Atlantic City (3.5hrs)round trip and Philly to New York (4hrs) round trip I had sweet, pleasant riders. Interesting conversations. Somewhat boring on way back because you are by yourself. Just turn up the music and enjoy the scenery. Call family/friends catch up. I made 144.00 and 120.00 with fare and tip. I wasn't complaining.
I once took an Uber from Hartford airport to Boston Logan. I was flying back from Raleigh, and there were literally no other flights available to get me back to Boston.
It was over 100 miles (1.5~2 hours), but the dude was super cool about it. Gave him a big tip (I think at least 50% of the fare) because he didn't think he could get a fare back. That was only my second or third Uber ride, so I did find it i helpful that the driver educated me on it.
I believe Uber has 4 hour max for passenegr in the car
and Lyft has a 100 mile cut off, though I had taken a passenegr 135 miles out to MD on Lyft
They quietly got rid of those max limits. You can take it as long as you want. Uber changed their verbiage on their website too. (they removed the reference to limits)
As far as the driver is willing to go. Once matched up, just ask over the phone. Make sure to do it right away, under 5 minutes, to avoid a cancellation fee.
I've never taken a trip more than ~200 miles, which only paid ~$175 (+$50 tip)
As long as you want, baby. Longer the better. More money.