Lyft Announces Ambitious Goal, But Will it Pay Off?: Rideshare Drivers React

Welcome to Rideshare Drivers React, your weekly roundup of the conversations trending among drivers in The Rideshare Guy community. Click Subscribe above to be notified of each edition. 

[Editor’s note: Quotes are lightly edited for clarity]

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This Lyft Driver is Earning $4,000 a Week!

Since the coronavirus, rideshare demand has been in a freefall. However, there are signs that demand is turning around - and increasing. But which drivers are savvy enough (and willing, with many precautions) to take advantage of the upswing?

We interviewed one driver in Phoenix who paid attention to local driver Facebook groups, saw pent up demand, and started driving. Right now, he’s taking advantage of this demand by working 80 hours a week, earning $4,000 a week doing so.

Needless to say, some readers were incredulous - and inspired.

Here’s what readers are saying:

Reader Peter honed in on a common denominator of being a successful rideshare driver: finding something that works and using it to your advantage to earn more money quickly:

“This guy has found a niche, in a great area for driving, during a great time for driving (during the pandemic).  I discovered the lack of drivers more than a few weeks ago.  But because the average ride request pickup was 15-25 minutes away, was not worth it for me, and is certainly NOT realistic for the vast majority of rideshare drivers. So kudos to this driver!”

Not all readers were impressed by this Phoenix driver’s hustle to earn more. Many drivers expressed dismay that anyone would be out driving during a pandemic. Reader Robert noted he isn’t out driving not only because of the pandemic, but also because of irresponsible passengers:

“That's insane....having that many riders in his car and sometime in the near future, this driver will have contracted the. COVID-19 virus. I am not risking my health as an Uber Driver during ongoing pandemic....plus dealing with a lot of drama from riders who irresponsibly didn't comply with Uber's policy of wearing a mask or scarf.”

Chime in on the discussion here.

Is It Ethical For Uber & Lyft Drivers To Accept Government Benefits?

Is it ethical for Uber and Lyft drivers to accept government benefits, like unemployment insurance, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and other programs?

Once the coronavirus took hold in the US, many drivers applied for an array of government benefits, including unemployment, the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. Some did it simply because work dried up, others did it because of health concerns, and many others did it for those reasons and more.

However, some readers reached out to us expressing dismay that drivers would be eligible at all, when they could ‘just’ go out and sign up for delivery services. It turned out that the question above garnered a lot of feedback from drivers - and not all of it positive. 

Here’s what readers are saying:

Driver Dru highlighted a common complaint about drivers receiving unemployment benefits: should people who are not technically ‘employees’ be allowed to receive unemployment benefits at all?

“Do I think that rideshare drivers should be able to get unemployment? Not really. Again we are not employees. If people don't pay into unemployment why would they think they are entitled to it? Should we be able to take advantage of PPP for biz help? Yes.”

It’s been interesting to see the comments play out. As driver Julia mentioned, you’re penalized in the unemployment system if you try to work, yet you need benefits because there is not enough work to pay your bills. Is it time for the US to recognize a new form of compensation (and re-think ‘unemployment’ entirely)?

“Silly me, I kept working part-time so they reduced my benefits. So I will stop working and use the extra time planning and preparing for B. Fine by me; but [for the record], our benefits system that penalizes you for working and rewards you for having babies is backward.

The way forward is UBI, 100%.”

Chime in on the discussion here.

Lyft Announces 2030 Goal of Transitioning Platform to Electric Vehicles

Lyft recently announced a seemingly ambitious goal: turn their entire platform, including drivers’ personal vehicles, all electric by 2030. Lyft outlined three ways this would happen:

1. Focusing on policies to achieve EV cost-parity (with gasoline powered vehicles)
2. Lead with Express Drive EV rentals to provide nearer-term EV access
3. Build demand for EVs among millions of Lyft platform users, including drivers and passengers

Wow! An ambitious endeavor, right? Not so fast - it turns out there are some stipulations and assumptions going into the “100% electric by 2030” announcement. Plus, drivers won’t even have to drive an electric vehicle (EV) in order to drive for Lyft in 2030. 

That fact, plus Lyft’s acknowledgement of abandoning its carbon offset program, did not go unnoticed by Rideshare Guy drivers.

Here’s what readers are saying:

Driver Curt made an astute observation about this whole situation: if Lyft was truly committed to ‘going green’, they would be incentivizing drivers with electric vehicles now, potentially offering special promotions or earnings opportunities. This would not only make EV drivers happier with Lyft, but would also show other drivers how Lyft prioritizes more environmentally-friendly vehicles.

“What an ingenious smokescreen!

With a click of a mouse Lyft instantly liberates itself from the millstone of costly carbon offsets by way of a ballyhooed transition to EVs most of whose costs are years down the road (and will largely be borne by others)...

The irony of all this, for me anyway, is that I've driven a Chevy Bolt EV for 2.5 years and 110k miles, along the way giving 2000+ Lyft rides, and Lyft has said / done zero zip nada to thank, incentivize, or reward me for doing so.”

Ironically, driver Gabe chimed in that Uber, for a brief period, actually incentivized him to drive with an electric vehicle:

“Uber paid me an extra $30 a week for driving my Bolt for about 3 months then quietly stopped.”

Chime in on the discussion here.

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