My Insane Rideshare Experiences - This Year!
Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft have certainly changed the landscape of travel. and I use them a LOT. I like them because you can track your journey for safety, you know exactly what you’ll be paying, and you can fly out of one airport and return to a different one—adjusting your travel on the fly is easy.
But there are some downsides to letting anyone drive you to the airport. This past year, I’ve had a few eye-opening experiences.
Maniac Driver
Take the guy who was driving like a lunatic—zipping in and out of traffic. I got so nervous that I started scrolling on my phone to distract myself. That is, until I heard him scream, “No! No! No!”
I looked up just as the brakes squealed, and we slammed into the back of another car. Luckily, no one was hurt, but my second concern was making my flight. I called a friend, and she picked me up on the side of the freeway.
Later, she told me that on her way home, she saw a lot of cop cars and fire trucks at the accident scene. She wondered if she had unintentionally helped me flee the scene of a crime! I told her, “They have my number if they want to call.” I never heard from anyone.
Unqualified Driver
Sometimes, it’s not the reckless driving that’s the issue—it’s the lack of preparation. One driver arrived at my house and, as I was getting into the car, informed me that she was new and hadn’t yet watched the training video required to drop passengers off at the airport.
Her plan? Drive me to a shuttle stop near the airport and let me take the shuttle the rest of the way. Seriously? Who takes Lyft and then also wants to take an airport shuttle?
I told her, “No thanks,” and suggested she stop driving until she completes the necessary training. Thankfully, she ended up taking me to the airport but turned off her Lyft sign as we approached.
Scared Driver
Another driver picked me up at the airport to take me home and asked if I’d prefer the freeway or side streets. She mentioned that side streets would add ONLY 20 extra minutes to the trip. Um, who wants that?
I told her I wanted to get home as quickly as possible. She reluctantly agreed but admitted she hated driving on L.A. freeways. I’m thinking “Rideshare driving in LA might not be the job for you.”
She took me on the freeway, but knowing she was nervous made me nervous, too.
Scammy Driver
At the Albany, NY airport, a driver picked me up and immediately demanded $40 in cash.
领英推荐
“What?” I asked. He explained that he wasn’t making enough on the trip and wanted a cash tip on top of the fare. We were already out of the airport, so I couldn’t switch rides. I told him I only paid through the app.
After a brief back-and-forth, he tried to smooth things over and “make nice.” I reported him as soon as I reached my hotel.
Two days later, I had a different driver on the way back to the airport—but the same request! He, too, claimed he wasn’t making enough and wanted cash. Once again, I declined, and once again, he tried to charm me into tipping. I didn’t.
Switch-a-Roo Driver
One morning in Oklahoma, I was picked up at my hotel to head downtown. The driver arrived in a car different from the one listed in the app, and his photo didn’t match either.
When I asked about it, he said his car was in an accident (probably not the best thing to tell a passenger) and claimed he went bald since his profile photo was taken—maybe because of the car accident?
Despite my better judgment, I got in the car but second-guessed myself the entire ride downtown.
These experiences highlight a few simple lessons that we can apply to our lives:
·??????? Stay focused and calm on your task so you don’t cause accidents.
·??????? Get the training you need and understand the job requirements (like driving on L.A. freeways).
·??????? Honor your commitments—if you agree to a price, stick with it. Don't hit people up for more money.
·??????? Take care of the easy stuff, like updating your car and profile photo, to make people feel comfortable working with you.
No matter your profession, following these steps will put you ahead of a lot of your competition.
Jan McInnis is a Keynote Speaker, Comedian, Comedy Writer, and Master of Ceremonies. She has written for Jay Leno’s Tonight Show monologue as well as many other people, places, and groups – radio, TV, syndicated cartoon strips, and even guests on the Jerry Springer show (her parents are proud). For 20+ years she’s traveled country as a keynote speaker and comedian sharing her unique and practical tips on what business leaders can learn from comedians (no, it’s not all about telling jokes). She can be reached at www.TheWorkLady.com, or [email protected]? She’s also a GREAT Master of Ceremonies. Click here for her emcee site?
Some of the stories in this newsletter are taken from Jan’s popular book:?
Click on the link above to check it out!?
?