Should Uber and Lyft Do More to Protect Drivers?: Rideshare Drivers React

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

The latest episode on The Rideshare Guy! Take a listen to my latest podcast episode, where I chat with Kelly Ferguson of Automotus, a curb management company, about how curb management has typically worked in the past, how Automotus helps cities and gig workers, plus new city pilots to better optimize curb usage.

Should Uber and Lyft Do More to Protect Drivers?

Is driver safety being taken seriously enough by rideshare and delivery companies? Drivers share mixed opinions on how well rideshare companies are balancing driver safety vs passenger demand.?

Here’s what readers are saying:

Drivers had plenty of theories as to why Uber and Lyft aren’t more stringent with their passenger policies, and one driver commented that rideshare companies leave much of the enforcement up to drivers:

“My opinion about why Uber and Lyft haven't already required everyone who uses the service to provide proper government ID is that if they required everyone to provide the ID, then they would also have to deactivate every account that belongs to an underage individual. Yes, it's the policy that you have to be 18 to use Uber, but anyone who has been a rideshare driver for more than a week knows that plenty of teenagers and even middle school kids have their own Uber account.

As it is, the rideshare companies do the bare minimum to meet legal requirements regarding informing users that a person must be 18 or older to use the app. They leave the enforcement of that policy up to the drivers.”

Chime in on the discussion here.

How DRIVERS Can TEACH The Uber And Lyft Algorithms!

Uber and Lyft have implemented upfront fares and an upfront pay model where the algorithm has to "learn" to price rides correctly. Is it possible for drivers to ‘teach’ the algorithm and possibly earn more??

Here’s what readers are saying:

Many drivers shared that the key to getting matched with “better” rides is to train Uber and Lyft’s algorithms to only send you trips you prefer, although drivers warned you must stay vigilant:

“I noticed even way before upfront fears came about that if you accept garbage, garbage keeps coming. Don’t take garbage. The system will keep sending you garbage trips because you’re excepting garbage trips. If you want good trips only except good trips, and the system will tend to send you most more good trips, although it does test you every so often so you have to be on the lookout all the time.”

Chime in on the discussion here.

Uber And Lyft Are Putting MORE LIMITS On Drivers

It looks like Uber and Lyft are putting more restrictions on what drivers can and can’t accept in the preferences tab. What is going on, and how can drivers get around it?

Here’s what readers are saying:

Overall, drivers agreed that since drivers provide the main business of rideshare services, they should have more say over the rides they accept - but that’s not how it’s working out right now.??

“I have never been able to choose “Comfort “ in preferences. However, I get booked for comfort trips all the time while on UberX. I meet all the criteria on the website and every time I called them they say that there never has been a “comfort, preference, toggle“ even though I can clearly see it right here on all of the screens as well as other drivers in my area.”?

Chime in on the discussion here.