Uber driver

First, I'm a driver. I drive full time, it is my only gig, same for my husband. We drive at night because we are nocturnal by nature and we enjoy the variety of experiences most rides offer. 

I've been reading a lot of articles and blogs where drivers discuss at length all the ways riders irritate or vex them. All the ways they rationalize giving low ratings or refusing riders who have them. 

And I'm sorry, really sorry that y'all are treated that way. Drivers have gotten a little power crazy with those rider ratings now that so many folks rely so heavily on ride-share services. I am proud to be a part of freeing people from car & insurance payments, costs for gas and maintenance AND helping them do a little something helpful for mother Earth. We all depend on her for our very existence, we should treat her in kind. 

I also enjoy helping folks get home safely after a night out. I've heard some really ugly things about intoxicated passengers. When in my opinion, they deserve respect. They made a responsible decision not to drive which makes my (and anyone else driving at the time) hours on the road safer. It's not hard to discern when someone is intoxicated to the point that vomiting might be a problem. So along with my trusty barf bags, I employ this novel tool God gave most of us... Empathy. I consider how I would hope to be treated if I was in their place. I wouldn't want my driver to assume I'm going to splatter vomit like the chick from the exorcist just because I'm drunk. I'd hope they'd try to drive smoothly and avoid josteling me about so much that I do get sick then get pissy and charge me $150 in cleani…

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First, I'm a driver. I drive full time, it is my only gig, same for my husband. We drive at night because we are nocturnal by nature and we enjoy the variety of experiences most rides offer. 

I've been reading a lot of articles and blogs where drivers discuss at length all the ways riders irritate or vex them. All the ways they rationalize giving low ratings or refusing riders who have them. 

And I'm sorry, really sorry that y'all are treated that way. Drivers have gotten a little power crazy with those rider ratings now that so many folks rely so heavily on ride-share services. I am proud to be a part of freeing people from car & insurance payments, costs for gas and maintenance AND helping them do a little something helpful for mother Earth. We all depend on her for our very existence, we should treat her in kind. 

I also enjoy helping folks get home safely after a night out. I've heard some really ugly things about intoxicated passengers. When in my opinion, they deserve respect. They made a responsible decision not to drive which makes my (and anyone else driving at the time) hours on the road safer. It's not hard to discern when someone is intoxicated to the point that vomiting might be a problem. So along with my trusty barf bags, I employ this novel tool God gave most of us... Empathy. I consider how I would hope to be treated if I was in their place. I wouldn't want my driver to assume I'm going to splatter vomit like the chick from the exorcist just because I'm drunk. I'd hope they'd try to drive smoothly and avoid josteling me about so much that I do get sick then get pissy and charge me $150 in cleaning fees. I'd hope they'd talk to me like I was a person and not roll their eyes while they huff and puff their way through the ride. And I'd hope that my driver didn't judge me based on my rider rating because there's no way they can know if that 4. 5 belongs to a rider with only 2 rated rides, and as a  newcomer to the platform, didn't do every last thing their veteran, always get it right driver thought they should have. Subsequently destroying my rating, albeit temporarily. I'd hope they would treat me like a human being, just as perfectly imperfect as they are. And maybe not be so quick to check the boxes on their 'do's and don'ts' list because they are just itching to find something to be irritated about. 

I love being an Uber driver, it lets me work when I want to, I meet fun and interesting people every time I work and after 800+ rides haven't had anyone problematic in my car. I am wildly grateful that I have the opportunity to earn a living doing something that most times doesn't feel like work. 

I think we find that because not all Uber drivers are well suited to the profession, yet because of the relative ease they can bring in extra money, a quite unrealistic standard has developed and riders are expected to adhere to those standards. What I find troublesome about this is, and this is a newsflash folks, riders are paying for our time and services. Even if it's a short ride, we are still paid. 

Would I prefer only to receive requests for rides that make buckets of money, riders whose personality and mood perfectly fit mine, who knew what I expected from them every time and who were just as excited to give me 5 stars and an awe-worthy tip as I am to hand them 5 stars. Yeah, who wouldn't? But that's not reality and expecting it then punishing riders for not measuring up to a standard they've set as a way to cope with doing a job they aren't suited to be doing in the first place is only going to turn the Rider/driver relationship adversarial and make both riding and driving a far less enjoyable experience. 

I don't even look at rider ratings, when a request comes in, I accept. I'm online on the Uber platform which means I want to work and I'm not going to nit pick the opportunities to earn. I'm not sure where some of these drivers grew up, but where I come from, no one expects a shift at work to be all rainbows and sunshine, hello, it's work. Work we have because riders choose to patronize our contractor. 

Not to mention, as a member of the human race and someone who engages with new people in my work, I choose to give better than I get and to leave people put in my path for even the briefest of experiences, better than they were when I came along. If an Uber ride with me shines even a little bit of light on their otherwise icky day, honestly, whether they tip or not is kind of irrelevant. Yes, I do this to make money. Not extra money, money I live on and pay my bills with. And what I've found is treating every rider in a way that shows I love what I do and am grateful for their business translates to both my income and driver rating  reflecting accordingly. People know it when our smile and attitude are genuine and even more when they are not. And while I know that goes both ways, unless a Rider were abusive, disruptive, mean or foul, they can behave how they want, they are paying me. For the length of that ride, they are my boss. They are paying my wages and may or may not choose to complete a review of my performance. As a former manager who did both, I can tell you that makes them my boss. I conduct myself accordingly. 

Riders, thanks for continuing to ride, helping me make my living. Much respect. 

Drivers, let's all of us be self aware enough to see when driving passengers is not suited to our personality or skill set. And choose to do something that is, bringing some peace to your own life and ensuring you don't take peace from others because your general unhappiness shows. Far more than you realize.  The quick, easy way to make some cash is a bonus to doing something you enjoy, not the reason for doing it in the first place.  

May you be blessed and be a blessing,

Mo

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