Safety as a Rideshare Driver for Uber and Lyft

Is it safe to be a rideshare driver? Is it safe to drive in Chicago?

Overall, I haven't experienced any major safety concerns, except for taxi drivers being jerk faces and feeling like traffic is going to kill me sometimes. The more you drive, the more you risk being in a car accident and the more you have to deal with idiot drivers. You just need to have patience.

I often get asked if I've been creeped on by men or had people "toss their cookies" in my car. The answer to being creeped on is no, SOMEHOW. I am usually the prime target to get creeped on, but I feel like people are more interested in talking to me. I just try to avoid the stupid drunks. I've had a few people tell me I'm cute or something, but nothing to elicit me being uncomfortable. I suggest carrying a mace and/or pepper spray just in case. I also have my keys to use as a weapon, and my martial arts skills. It's always handy to know self-defense. In terms of people being sick in my car, I now drive away from and cancel on people who look to be "sloppy" and now am going to avoid driving for major drunk events. It may be extra money, but I had a near-tragic incident on St. Patrick's day. Never again. No one has stolen from me or tried to commit a crime, but I feel like people don't really have regard for the condition of my car. Chicago also has a lot of pot holes and stupid cameras that give you tickets.

Another thing that happens sometimes is having to go to rather uncomfortable parts of the south side... sometimes at night. I do have a fear of getting shot in the south side more than I do getting robbed/hurt/sexually assaulted while driving. I once had to go to Englewood at 1:30am (on a Friday Night/Saturday Morning) and I was scared when I saw a herd of people and hoped it wasn't a gang on the streets (it wasn't thankfully). There were TONS of cops and I feel like there's worse looking areas than Englewood. I don't think Englewood forsure is under patrolled at night because I felt like I saw a cop on every corner or every other corner. Thanks for trying your best down there, cops!

Either way, I feel pretty safe, so no worries, especially for a female. None of my friends who drive have had anything happen to them either!

Humans of Rideshare Drivers

Me:

I sometimes feel insecure when telling people I do Uber (and Lyft) driving full time vs. my shiny "professional" desk job. I had a job as a Web Developer which I landed right out of college. It ended up not working out and I decided I ultimately want to be a writer and performer. I couldn't find another job in time and was basically left to either quit or get fired. I chose to quit because I wanted to leave on my terms and not have my morale be crushed. One of my friends who I live with suggested rideshare driving to me because I already had a car. I had always wanted to be self-employed, but ended up having to do so sooner than planned. Anything you do, you have to act professional no matter what, but I shouldn't feel ashamed because I'm setting out to make something for myself; at least doing something to make me money. Plus I have this blog to share my stories. Web Developer and Uber driver are just titles. I need to keep telling myself this!

Uber Vs. Lyft

*Uber gets more quantity of rides and Lyft gets more quality of rides, plus you're able to give tips through the Lyft app (lately they've been about even in terms of ride quantity, but usually Uber gives more rides)

*Uber you can instant pay at any dollar amount and Lyft you need $50 dollars

*Uber and Lyft's fares are very similar (in Chicago)

*In driver mode, on the map showing where you are, Lyft gives you an arrow of which way you're going and Uber uses a small dot on the map

*Lyft now has a color changing activator to show when you're picking up passengers and Uber does not

*Lyft rates you on your last 100 rides and Uber rates you on your last 500

*Lyft has a picture of what the passenger looks like when you're picking them up and Uber does not

*Lyft has a feature where you can push a button when you arrive instead of Uber where it automatically notifies the passenger

*Lyft has a 5 minute countdown (for a regular Lyft) for the passenger's arrival time and it counts in your fare and Uber doesn't have that

*Uber you can text your passenger as well as call them and with Lyft you can only call them

Why I'm Never Driving During a Drunk Holiday EVER Again

Well, I'm sure many of you are wondering how it was driving for St. Patrick's Day (weekend); and the answer to that question is money and drunk people riffic. I did not drive the exact day of St. Patrick's Day; I drove the weekend Chicago turned the river green... and probably never doing it again. At least that's what I tell myself right now.

It all started when the bars opened as early as 7 or 8am for people's day drinking muses. If I remember correctly, *every single one* of my passengers was intoxicated. I probably started around 11 am because I wanted super extra heavy duty money and surge was very high. It all started when I got stuck driving down Michigan Avenue and was moving about 2 inches every 5 minutes. I was lucky to not get canceled on though. Now, I wonder how bartenders consistently deal with drunk people and even belligerent people. I can deal with a couple of drunk people a night, but it gets to a point where I even become worn out from talking to and dealing with these people.

Most people were well behaved, but I don't want anyone to throw up in my car. Plus I sometimes wonder how bartenders deal with drunk people on a daily basis. Then I end up doing it myself plenty of the time. It builds character, that's forsure. I also feel like there's a larger likelihood of having to drive to the suburbs. I did almost have a casualty, but was able to pull over in time to avoid grossness going in my car. 

Traffic was awful all day. I even saw a taxi hit an Uber driver, but at least the accident was small. I ended up driving a few more sloppy people subsequently after that and eventually threw in the towel when I had enough of dealing with people for one day. This misadventure made the #1 for the most sloppy passenger I had to deal with. Next time, I'll just find other days to go out and go out and have fun while I'm young, single, and can! At least I made 300 dollars that weekend! No regrets, but never again! Nopity Nopity Nopity NOPE!

Least Favorite Passengers to Transport for Uber and Lyft

In no particular order with more being added as I see them:

*People who make annoying noises or chew (gum) very loudly: I literally want to cringe, especially because I am sensitive to certain sounds. It makes my ear feel like something is grinding in it. I pray the ride is over asap!

*People who smell bad: Please go take a shower. Sometimes, you may have just gotten off of work and be all smelly, but eeeeewwww. At least I can frantically Febreeze my car afterward!

*People who are in groups of more than 4 people and request a regular Uber: Hey there now, it may cost a couple extra dollars to get you an Uber XL or Lyft Plus, but how do you know I have a third row back seat? The car you get assigned to ride in is random!

*People who request for a ride that's less than a 10 minute drive and make me wait for a long time: You only get paid when you're driving. I know I'm sometimes slow at getting ready, but it matters a little more when time is *actually* money. Plus, short rides don't generate much fare and a 5 minute drive that takes 20 minutes to complete after a round of getting lost and traffic, I lose several dollars for that hour. If it's freezing, awful weather, or you actually can't walk, you're excused though!

*People who drop a pin for an address instead of giving me an actual destination: I'm still learning directions here, and giving me an address of "Monroe Harbor" with your pin being in the water isn't going to help me much. You then tell me you're at Navy Pier. I start heading in your direction and you tell me I'm going the wrong way. If I were to go the other way, I'd be heading towards the museum campus. You then tell me you're at the Navy Pier bus terminal. At least I know where that is due to misadventures of ending up there when running infinitely late for work one day. You then tell me you're by a boat dock, which ends up being all the way in the back of Navy Pier. At least I find you, but thanks for bringing a crying baby in my car...

*People who talk on the phone very loudly in my back seat: That just makes me feel awkward, so I'll blast music and think in space while driving you to your destination

*Couples who argue in my back seat. No thanks! My last relationship existed of my boyfriend trying to pick arguments with me and I don't feel like seeing anymore of that now that I'm free of his stinking leash!

*People who use my car as a furniture moving service: I'm a rideshare driver, not a UHaul truck. A few of my first days as a rideshare driver, someone wanted me to move a recliner couch that didn't fit in their car and another person wanted me to move a 65 inch TV and took their 9 year old with them. My car may be big and be able to transport things, but I guess, "we shall never deny a guest, even the most ridiculous request"... At least someone who had me move a piano gave me a tip!

*Ones who ask for me to go to the burbs: Well, those aren't too bad, but sometimes annoying when you have to drive far away from surge pricing/most riders and drive all the way back once you're done. It is a nice fair, but it was pretty funny when my very first ride was from the King Bowl in Lincoln Park to Inverness. I had 1/4 tank of gas in my car thinking I'd be ok for a bit. I awkwardly had to go to the gas station and eventually took them home. I still think that's the longest distance drive I've had to this day (almost 4 months later).

*People who request me to drop them off in a neighborhood I'd feel wary of going to: I don't want to get shot, please and thank you!

*People who spill things in my back seat or ask to have a beer while I'm driving. No thanks! Cleaning my car is expensive

*Drunkards who are SO loud where it feels like 6 people are having 5 conversations within my car. Either that, or people who begin asking me weird questions (such as preferring to smell a bag of poop or have someone unleash a smelly fart and hotbox me). Those were the types of questions my high school bullies asked me and I'm NOT down for that!

*People with whiny children...