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Why does it take longer for Uber drivers to arrive when I request for a long trip?
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CharlieLazie
Ride Apprentice
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The Guru Take
Could be due to drivers not accepting the trip.
To answer your question, I should briefly explain how a rider's request is handled through the Uber apps. When a user requests an Uber vehicle, this request is forwarded to a driver nearby. This driver sees the request on the screen, and he or she has 15 seconds to a) accept, b) click on "No Thanks", and c) ignore. (to see what drivers see, click here)
Here's the thing; when a driver declines a request (option b or c), the rider-to-be is not notified. The original request automatically gets forwarded to another driver.
So what happens when your request bounces around? That's right. You may need to wait a little while until you are matched up with a driver, and this driver could be farther away geographically than those matched up first. This is the most likely reason you seem to have to wait longer for your driver to arrive.
With that said...drivers prefer longer trips, in general. So, the reason could be something else that drivers are declining OR perhaps the proposed ride is too long or out of the way. (?)
Comments
That's a nice guru response. At first when I read this question, I laughed at how stupid it was, but I suppose that can happen.
It could have to do with the area you are in and the number of drivers available to pick you up. Sometimes I find that there are areas where it takes longer to get matched up because I'm not in a very busy area and it will take someone longer to get to me.
No, there really shouldn't be any reason. Uber doesn't make such distinction. The request goes to the closest driver, and the driver picks it up. These exchanges are in real-time. I don't think there is any benefit to Uber doing something like this.
Define "long trip." Drivers may be hesitent to accept your ride request for many reasons, like time to your destination and back, existing personal commitments outside of driving, and earning potential working special events, etc.
I occassionally get ride requests that take me 100+ miles from home, but even though I may earn a decent fare taking someone there, I also have a 100+ mile drive home during which I'm burning my own gas and earning ZERO compensation. Had I declined the 200 mile (roundtrip) ride that took 4 hrs, I could very well have taken a dozen surged rides and made more money.
Sometimes I also get unexpected long trip requests that I just can't accept, like two weeks ago when I got a request that conflicted with a critical doctors appointment. Not ideal, but sometimes our personal lives need to come before potential earnings.