Uber/Lyft discussion

[joelkfla]

Brightline sets monthly records; announces partnership with Uber - Trains

MIAMI — Aided by its seasonal Polar Express promotion and discounted $10 rides celebrating the opening of stations at Boca Raton and Aventura, Brightline’s Miami-West Palm Beach service carried 183,920 passengers in December 2022, generating $5.1 million of ticket revenue. Both are monthly...

www.trains.com

Uber would not be my first choice. I hope Brightline provides some way to resolve issues, as Uber absolutely refuses to engage in a conversation with consumers.

 

[Anderson]

Uber would not be my first choice. I hope Brightline provides some way to resolve issues, as Uber absolutely refuses to engage in a conversation with consumers.

I'd prefer Lyft, personally. I vaguely tolerate Uber's existence, but Lyft pairs with my fancy Chase card.

 

[VentureForth]

I'd prefer Lyft, personally. I vaguely tolerate Uber's existence, but Lyft pairs with my fancy Chase card.

I drive for both. They both started well. Lyft really hit the ground with the best image and communication with drivers and passengers. Unfortunately, now they've become household names, they both really suck - to both the drivers and passengers. Drivers can barely cover the cost of gas anymore. Uber and Lyft used to have between a 80/20 and 72/28% split, driver/platform. Now the corporations take as much as 60% of what passengers pay to ride. It's really sad.

 

[Anderson]

I drive for both. They both started well. Lyft really hit the ground with the best image and communication with drivers and passengers. Unfortunately, now they've become household names, they both really suck - to both the drivers and passengers. Drivers can barely cover the cost of gas anymore. Uber and Lyft used to have between a 80/20 and 72/28% split, driver/platform. Now the corporations take as much as 60% of what passengers pay to ride. It's really sad.

I mean, what's needed is a mechanism for drivers to say "Here's the minimum I'll take today" (as a counterpart to "surge pricing" - preemptive "pricing floor" withdrawal). For some drivers it might mean not getting fares, but at the same time it might also mean not getting fares they simply don't make money on after expenses and where sitting around might be preferable.

 

[VentureForth]

I mean, what's needed is a mechanism for drivers to say "Here's the minimum I'll take today" (as a counterpart to "surge pricing" - preemptive "pricing floor" withdrawal). For some drivers it might mean not getting fares, but at the same time it might also mean not getting fares they simply don't make money on after expenses and where sitting around might be preferable.

That has actually been coming about lately. I can get a request from 15 minutes away and know that it will be a short ride and have the opportunity to refuse it. Sadly, the expectation by passengers is that they can always get a ride from anywhere. But, too many refusals on our part reduces incentives (not that there are many).

Whether it's Lyft or Uber or some other company, it's important to have options available for that last mile.

 

[Anderson]

That has actually been coming about lately. I can get a request from 15 minutes away and know that it will be a short ride and have the opportunity to refuse it. Sadly, the expectation by passengers is that they can always get a ride from anywhere. But, too many refusals on our part reduces incentives (not that there are many).

Whether it's Lyft or Uber or some other company, it's important to have options available for that last mile.

So, from the passenger perspective, this is the case. However, I'd be willing to pay a bit more for some of that reliability - and I'd like to be able to "hard book" a ride at certain times for a premium (that is, steps will be taken to make sure that yes, I can get that ride to the airport at 0400 beyond the system just "sending out" the booked ride right about then).

[Honestly, if I have a flight to make and I can't drive for some reason, I'd like there to be some ability to say "No, I really need this ride" when scheduling in advance, since it's not like taxis are immune to flaking off, either.]

 

[Just-Thinking-51]

Lyft user here.
Hard booking is a option. (DFW area)
Lyft limits the tip you can give. Ride back from Albany, NY to the house was limited to just under 50%.
Completely shock that the company is taken 60% from some rides, I have not heard that. Wonder if it’s market related.

 

[Northwestern]

I will say something positive for Uber and Lyft. When arriving at small airports or small Amtrak stations, it may be difficult finding a taxi waiting outside the station. Last summer, I took the Starlight to Eugene, OR and couldn't find a taxi and had to call Lyft. On the same trip, after a flight from Seattle to Redmond, Oregon there wasn't a taxi waiting at the airport. After a half-hour wait, I lucked out when a taxi did drive up. I was told that so many people use Uber and Lyft it has led to many cab companies serving only larger airports and Amtrak stations.

 

[joelkfla]

Taxi are hard to find with Uber and Lyft taken over that market. I am still not sold on the whole safety of use a Lyft. My last ride from the airport ... he was using his gps for directions.

I think most drivers use their GPS 100% of the time. I mean it's there, why not? And it gives current traffic info, and reduces the possibility of disputes about the rider's exact destination.

 

[Just-Thinking-51]

I think most drivers use their GPS 100% of the time. I mean it's there, why not? And it gives current traffic info, and reduces the possibility of disputes about the rider's exact destination.

Which is not a problem if they spend the time to program it correctly. In my case he got mad when it did not match my destination and what he had in his GPS. I was quite taken back by this, and a bit worried about getting kick out because he didn’t want to go any further. My address is problem due to living in the sticks, with add bonus of not having phone service in the gorge between hamlets. Of course the next day was when I meet Linda on the Sliver, with all that drama. So my last few Lyft experience have been unnecessary stressful, and I really am getting tired of the hit or miss on the professionalism of this service.

So in this case of a transfer to a hotel from the train, I am recommend use the shuttle bus from the hotel.

 

[VentureForth]

Which is not a problem if they spend the time to program it correctly. In my case he got mad when it did not match my destination and what he had in his GPS. I was quite taken back by this, and a bit worried about getting kick out because he didn’t want to go any further. My address is problem due to living in the sticks, with add bonus of not having phone service in the gorge between hamlets. Of course the next day was when I meet Linda on the Sliver, with all that drama. So my last few Lyft experience have been unnecessary stressful, and I really am getting tired of the hit or miss on the professionalism of this service.

So in this case of a transfer to a hotel from the train, I am recommend use the shuttle bus from the hotel.

As a 7-year side-hustle driver for Uber/ Lyft with a 4.99 rating, I can assure you we don't program our own GPS. We don't precisely for the reason you state. No one wants us fiddling with our phone while driving. I have a magnetic phone mount that attaches to my ac vent for nearly hands free operation.

There ARE bad drivers out there. Unfortunately, since U/L both went public, the need to maximize profits had resulted in lower driver pay and higher passenger cost. What used to be an 80/20 split is closer to 60/40 now. Because of this, the more sensible drivers quit, and because of that, it's been harder to deplatform the bad ones.

I make it work because I drive a hybrid XL in a niche market at specific times.

Some of the GPS location errors are caused by passengers who don't know how to use the app fully which is understandable because there's no real guide. In addition to putting in a pickup address, you can also move the pin around to your precise location. You can also call or text the driver specific instructions.

I say all that to say this. U/L are the most economic "final mile" app. We are put through annual criminal AND driving background checks. I suggest downloading both apps and trying them out locally to get the learning curve worked out. Prices can vary wildly between the two if there is high demand.

And, finally, for what it's worth, when I was in NYC a few years ago, I tried Uber, Lyft and yellow cab. The cab was the only driver who asked ME for directions and every dash light was illuminated on his car.

Good luck. If you want any help, please feel free to DM me.

 

[Michigan Mom]

Whether a traditional cab works better or worse than Uber/lyft is heavily location and time dependent in my experience.
Do the drivers benefit from the surge premuim? I would hope so.
Drivers do seem to pass on inexpensive/shorter trips. To make it worth their while I tip cash, ex. 5$ for a $10 trip. During a recent surge a normal $15 trip was $30. But it was also snowing and that driver was a godsend. I gave him a ten.

 

[AFS1970]

I generally like local cabs but have recently warmed up to Uber due to convenience. My problem with both companies (not that they are really different companies at all) is the way they want to redefine the laws to fit them. Their legal battles on the west coast about drivers not being employees have made the papers, but in almost every state they have argued that they are not a taxi service and they shouldn't have to be regulated as one. They seem to be opposed to playing on a level playing field.