Ride sharing can be an interesting experience.  As a driver, you learn to deal with many things that, normally, you wouldn’t have to deal with on a regular basis.  This article is my rant on things that I have had to deal with by being as patient as I can be.

If you are a rider and regular user of ride sharing, you need to read this to the end.

Most riders get into the car and forget that they are in the drivers PERSONAL vehicle.  Some riders get in the car and slam the doors shut and
when they exit the vehicle they slam the doors again.  RIDERS…..if I were in your car, would you like it if I slammed your car doors  getting in and out?  I ask the riders, just before they exit to not slam the doors.  Some listen and some forget within 3 seconds.
     I offer candy, mints, and chocolates for my riders.  For the most part, riders generally take the candy with them but there are some riders that decide they will eat the candy while in my car.  I don’t have a problem with that.  What I DO have a problem
with is what they do with the wrappers.  RIDERS…..if I were in your car, and you gave me a candy to eat, would you like it if I threw the wrapper on the floor, put it in the cup holder, stuffed it in the seat?  I ask the riders specifically to put the wrappers in the cup holders so I can clean them out when they get out of my car.  I even tell them to take the candy with them.

Ride Sharing was created as a social networking opportunity.  You get a ride to where you need to go and get to meet new people along the way.  Especially with Uber Pool and Lyft Line.  However, most riders come to the car, sit in the back and treat drivers like second class citizens.  A lot, not most, but a lot of riders assume that drivers do not know where to go or how to follow the map.  I’m sorry, if you want to ASK the driver to take a certain route, that is fine, but don’t get in my car and start ordering me around without a hello, good morning, good evening, etc.  A little bit of courtesy goes a long way.

I picked up a rider once, and she immediately gave me orders to her destination, which I already knew what route was the quickest.  I didn’t argue or get smart with her, I just followed her directions.  About three days later, I happen to get this same rider again.  This time she asked me if I was her driver before.  I told her I was.  Again, she ordered me to follow directions, I immediately told her that I remember her and her route.  She was a little taken back, but told me okay.  About a week later, I picked up this rider a third time. She got in with a smile, said good morning to me and told me how she was lucky to have me as a driver for the third time.  She even asked if I could be around her building at the same time every day so she could request me as her driver.  This time she didn’t even mention the route.  I took her to her destination and I made a $10 tip.

Ladies and Gentlemen.  Ride Sharing is NOT a Taxi Cab. Most drivers that you come across are driving their personal vehicles.  They put many miles on their vehicles to drive you where you want to go.  They spend at least $50 in gas every two to three days depending on how much driving they do.  The wear and tear that riders cause on the cars are fixed with out-of-the-pocket money.  You are not charged for that.  The maintenance that drivers have to pay for comes out of the money that they make.  Drivers, most drivers, have to pay for additional “Ride Share” insurance because their regular insurance won’t cover them while they drive for Uber or Lyft and that can cost upwards of $750 a year or $75 bucks a month.

If I were in your car, slamming doors, leaving wrappers on the floor, not kicking the snow off of my feet, treating your car like a taxi or bus, would you let me in your car again?

Please remember these things riders.  We appreciate your business, please appreciate our service and vehicle.