The Wedding Crashers

Sorry For The Long Hiatus.

Hey all! Sorry that I've been AWOL! 

Life got to be a bit much and the blog feel to the wayside and I apologise for that. 😔

 Anyhoo, I've haven't been doing a whole lot of driving for both Lyft  and Uber. I took a small break...seven days, just to get stuff done at home that needed to be done...badly! That was the last week of June and I missed the extra money but it was still nice to be able to chill at home .

Wedding Crashing On. Saturday Night!

This past Saturday, I was part of the plan for three buds to go wedding crashing. I was the "getaway" car! 😋 

I had arrived at the destination and my passenger proceeds to inform me of his plans to crash his friend's sister's wedding! Fun! It was three 30something  guys. They  needed me to take them to the wedding and drive them back home  It was not a long ride, 20 minutes there and 20 minutes back. We started in Novi, Mi and ended in Pinckney, Mi . All the while as I drove, the guys were talking about how their friend didn't believe they were going to show up. My passengers were acting like high schoolers pulling a prank but it was all in good fun. My part was to hang around while they took photos of proof that they were really at the wedding! 😝 All in all, after a wait of 40 minutes(was told it would be 5 minutes) the guys got back in the car laughing like schoolgirls! 

Fun night for me!

Take care!

Safe travels this summer and please 

request Uber or Lyft when out partying! 

Don't drink and drive! 

Thanks to all for reading my blog!

😘

Maven: Car Sharing

An alternative to owning a car. 

General Motors has launched a car sharing company in Ann Arbor, Mi with more cities to come. It's a great  alternative to owning a car. With the price of parking, car insurance, payments etc that can be very pricey, Maven is the more affordable solution. 

RideSharing versus car sharing. 

What's the difference? According to one article I found, Maven focuses on short driving. Basically, with Maven using the app which is available on the App Store

A user enters the specifics for finding an available car nearby and rents the car toe use.  I have a insert a link to click on for more details. 

For now, Maven focuses on short-term car rental rather than Uber-style ride-sharing

General Motors is consolidating and expanding its car-sharing programs under a new brand, Maven, in its latest push to adapt to new business models that could threaten to undercut the way automakers have made money for decades.

As part of the effort, the Detroit automaker launched a city-based car-sharing service that allows residents to request the use of Chevrolet vehicles on the new Maven app for as little as $6 per hour, a la Zipcar. The program will begin with vehicles available at 21 parking spots in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Maven also incorporates and expands each of GM’s car-sharing services. Those include its residential car-sharing program in New York City, which allows residents of a Times Square apartment building to rent cars by the hour, that will be expanded to a residential location in Chicago. It also includes its peer-to-peer sharing program in Germany, which allows Frankfurt and Berlin residents to rent out their vehicles by the hour.

Maven is the latest move by GM to confront growing competition from car-sharing services such as Zipcar and ride-sharing services such as Uber, which could fundamentally alter automakers’ traditional business models, analysts say.

GM said on Tuesday that it followed up this month’s $500 million investment in Uber rival Lyft by acquiring the assets of another ride-sharing company, Sidecar Technologies, which disclosed it was shutting down in December.

GM also unveiled the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt electric car, which comes with several features designed with ride-sharing in mind, at the Consumer Electronics Show this month.

Maven consolidates GM’s car-sharing services but does not include any ride-sharing programs such as Lyft in which a customer is picked up by a driver, GM president Dan Ammann said Wednesday at a briefing for Maven's launch.

“(Maven) is all part of a very comprehensive approach to what we’re doing as we see the world changing,” Ammann said.

Ammann, who now sits on Lyft’s board, said GM is adapting to rapidly shifting consumer demands and new technologies. GM expects 25 million customers to use ride-sharing services worldwide by 2020, up from between 5 and 6 million today.

CAR NEWS 

Could GM’s $500 million Lyft investment lead to autonomous ride-hailing?

Moving with customers

“We’re following and moving with our customers and making sure that we’re putting our company in a position to serve them,” Ammann said.

He said GM sees its car-sharing push as a “long-term” investment, one that might not make money for the automaker at first but will in the future as the program expands.

GM chose Ann Arbor to introduce Maven’s city-wide car-sharing program because the University of Michigan’s large, sprawling campus can be difficult to get around, thus making car sharing potentially appealing to students and faculty, said Julia Steyn, GM’s vice president of urban mobility programs.

Users in Ann Arbor who download the Maven app can select a vehicle or pick-up location at rates beginning at $6 per hour for the Chevrolet Volt or Spark and topping out at $12 per hour for the Chevrolet Tahoe. Fuel and insurance costs are covered and there is no membership fee, Steyn said.

The vehicles, which come equipped with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, OnStar and 4G LTE, can be remotely started and heated or cooled via the app.

WhatsApp

Ann Arbor users will also be able to contact Maven team members, including Steyn, via the messaging app WhatsApp to share ideas and thoughts about the service.

Steyn said the program will expand to other metropolitan areas over the course of the year, though she declined to say which cities or regions the company is considering.

GM aims to expand Maven’s programs to new markets and to offer new services over time. The automaker is testing programs on its campuses in the U.S., China and Germany to see what could work in the future, including the use of autonomous Volts at its technical center in Warren, MI.

The company did not disclose how much it is investing in Maven.

GM said Maven is run by 40 employees within the company and those brought on from companies including Google, Zipcar and the recently acquired Sidecar.

The article "GM bundles, expands ride-sharing efforts under new Maven brand" first appeared at Automotive News

Read more: http://autoweek.com/article/car-news/maven#ixzz4925t8XUr

How will Maven affect ride share drivers? 

Good question. It's something that is worth investigating. 

Gold Star Status! 🌟🌟

Missing You. 

Sorry to have been away for a bit. I now have gold star status with Lyft because I have given 30 rides. Woot! Woot! Party tirne! 🎉Let the perks begin! 🎁 Yes, I now am receiving all sorts of info regarding discounts for hotels, fuel and coffee. Coupled with the discounts that Uber extends such as phone plans, car maintenance and health insurance plans, I'm really digging this ride  sharing gig!👍👍 

General updates and stuff 

Since, my inaugural ride with Uber...11-30-2015, I am coming up on my six month mark/anniversary as a ride share driver. I'm much more comfortable and have met some amazing and fun people! 

Most def am thinking about driving full-time! I tell my passengers that it's a great gig and so glad I made the decision to drive for Uber and Lyft. 

I do apologise for not blogging but I got out of the habit! 😁

Have a good night. 

Safe travels. 

🚗💨

Chariot For Women

A New RideSharing Company With A Twist!

Since I've started driving for Uber and Lyft, this question is asked of run by both men and women: "Do I feel safe?". 

Recently, I  had an older gentleman  passenger ask me if I drove at night. My response was "Oh, yeah. I stop at a certain time, though.". It's really great to have so many clients tell me "Take Care" or "Be Safe" when they alight my car. . Gives you faith in mankind that there a lot of  good people in the world still. 

This brings me about to a convos last night betwixt myself and three guys headed out on a night on the town. All of them were parents. One of them had stated that he wished that there was a company that picked kids up from school, take them to soccer practice, etc. 

Well, good news! There is a company called: Chariot For Women.  A former Uber driver founded the company and well... I have a link to click on for more info. 

http://techcrunch.com/2016/04/08/chariot-for-women-is-a-new-ride-sharing-service-for-women-only/ 

Please click on the link to read all about it. Personally, I love the idea. Many of my female passengers have had bad experiences with some Uber drivers who just happen to be male. 

Thanks again to all who read my blog! I have reached over 700 page views which doesn't seem much to some but to me, that's a lot! 

Uber...Wait No More(than 2 minutes).

Uber Changes Driver Wait Time.

Hey all! 

Sorry that I haven't been blogging as of late. Been a bit of a lazy layabout. 😋

Well, Uber has decided to allow drivers to cancel rides after a two minute wait versus the five minute wait. 

This means, your driver can cancel the ride after arriving to your pick up detonation and had to wait for you. Of course, any and all attempts should be made by the driver to contact the passenger...hopefully. 

I have a link to the full article. I'll share it with so that anyone interested can read it. 

http://www.androidheadlines.com/2016/04/ubers-new-policy-driver-fees-beyond-2-minute-wait.html

I've been letting my passengers know just to give them a heads up. 

Thanks so much for reading my blog and if you like what you read, please comment and follow. 

Have a good night! 

Safe travels. 

So...Who Are You Voting For?

Vote Republican!

No...this is not a political  endorsement of any kind and I try to stay out of the politics because of what my dad has said to me years ago..."Discuss anything you'd like except for politics and religion...you're always going to be in the wrong.".   I have taken this to heart. Yes, I have talked about some issues regarding politics in the past and what my dad has told me...held true. 

So, one Saturday night, in the wee o'clock, I pick up a married couple who had been partying with friends and the convos started out odd from the get go Between, the husband and wife "discussing" their grievances with each other, the subject turned to...yeah, you guessed it..,politics. 

It was my last ride of the night and I was tired. I played along until the couple told me to vote republican. I have always voted my conscience and there are some candidates who have run for officers and I feel did not deserve my vote because I felt they were unworthy of it. This current election...has me on a major undecided! I truly did not appreciate being told to vote for a particular party but tried my best to downplay it and be diplomatic. I could not wait for this ride to be over!!

I have no clue if they were too inebriated to rate me, however, the husband gave me a tip. Would have liked to have gotten  5 gold stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️for getting them home safely. Oh well.😏

My Thoughts On Ride Sharing Being Regulated.

So, What Do I Think?

Here are my thoughts. I first read an article awhile back...December 2015 about Michigan looking regulate ride sharing companies. Since, ride share drivers  really aren't taxis drivers  nor are they considered to be chauffeurs, the area is still gray as to what should be considered a transportation  service versus a person giving a ride to someone but getting paid for it. I feel...personally, that this is a scheme to rake in some bucks for state government.  That's what I'm taking away after reading the articles. As a driver for Uber and Lyft, I'm considered to be an independent contractor. I'm my one boss, I make my own schedule. I truly feel the entrepreneurial spirit and driving as an independent contractor fuels that feeling even more so. Legislation to regulate Uber, Lyft and any ride share companies would( in my opinion) squash the entrepreneurship of the independent contractor by asking them to take out more liability insurance at a higher premium, driving with a commercial driving license...CDL, USDOT numbers(a fee to pay), etc.  Taxi drivers and chaffeurs already have to pay extra themselves. Also, from why I've read, Michigan has passed a bill making ride sharing legal! It wasn't  before? It will  be interesting to see what happens in the future. Mind you,  this is for the state of Michigan. I'm not sure what other states have considered, passed about regulating ride sharing companies. 

Once again, thanks to all who read  my blog! Please feel free to leave a comment in the comment box and follow me for more blog posts. 

Take care. 

Safe Travels. 

Should Ride Sharing Companies Be Legislated?

Michigan Considers Regulation. 

I just saw this article pop in my newsfeed in regards to Michigan lesislature wanting to regulate rides hating companies such as Uber and Lyft. 

The following is the article. 

This is a snippet of the article. 

Please click on the link to find out more. 

Statewide Ridesharing Regulations @MackinacCenter http://www.mackinac.org/22072

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Ridesharing is a new service made popular by companies like Lyft and Uber. It relies on smartphones to connect those who need a ride to drivers willing to provide one — a riff on the traditional taxi system. Ridesharing has allowed thousands of Michiganders earn extra income as drivers and save money and time as riders. It currently operates in a legal gray area, however, because ridesharing drivers are not cabbies or chauffeurs.

The problem is that there is no statewide regulatory system that covers ridesharing in Michigan. While companies like Uber and Lyft maintain rigorous safety and driver-eligibility standards, they must get permission from each local municipality in order to operate legally. Implementing a statewide standard, like the one outlined in House Bill 4641, would make ridesharing legal and keep it safe, as well as make it easier for more people to benefit from this innovative service.

JOHN secretly always wanted to drive a cab, but he ended up with a law degree instead. Now that he’s moving toward retirement, he decided to revisit an old dream. He loves driving around MSU, where he says there is a different kind of demand for ridesharing.

REBECCA began driving for Uber to provide some income stability while she followed her passion for antiquing. She recently opened her own store. She thinks it’s important for people to know how safe ridesharing is, and how it increases safety in cities by providing an easy alternative to driving drunk.

BABACAR grew up in Senegal before immigrating to and earning citizenship from the United States. He supports his family by driving for Uber, and says his work for the service put him more in touch with his city.

TIM started driving for Lyft and Uber as a way to make some extra money during the holidays. Soon, it made him enough to leave his job as a restaurant manager and start his own business, Ryde Media, which sets up advertising in ridesharing vehicles.

KEVIN had fallen behind on mortgage payments when he decided to give ridesharing a try. These days, the extra income he earns working part-time for Uber has taken his family of six from nearly losing their house to remodeling their kitchen.

LARRY is a retired auto worker with a high school diploma. His favorite thing about ridesharing is the flexibility of working freelance, something he feels has never been accessible to people without a degree in the past.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

The Michigan Legislature is debating how to regulate ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft. The State House has passed bills — House Bills 4637, 4638, 4639, 4640 and 4641 – which would establish fair regulations giving people the freedom to ride and the freedom to drive.

But the Senate has introduced two bills – Senate Bill 184 and 188 – which over regulates drivers, requiring them to jump through numerous hoops and pay high fees in order to work. Worse, cities across Michigan would be able to crack down on drivers and put them out of business. This would make it harder for drivers to provide rides and limit riders' access to convenient and affordable transportation.

Uber Fare Increase.

Uber Detroit.

FYI: Earlier this year, Uber Detroit lowered their fare  pricing to encourage more passengers for drivers. I just received an email saying that Uber Detroit fares have been raised by 10%!  Drivers' pay structure has been changed as well to .70 per mile and .15 per minute. I'm not aware of any other cities to have increased their fares but I would make inquiries. 

 

THANKS FOR READING MY BLOG! 

Safe travels. 

April 19...A Day of Reckoning for Female Uber Passengers.

Deletion of The Uber App by Some Women. 

In response to many women who have been threatened/assaulted sexually by male Uber drivers, many women as a protest will be deleting the Uber app on April 19. 

Here's a link below to read more about the movement. Make your own judgements. I feel it would be an interesting read to any and all. 

http://www.dose.com/style/28133/Here-s-Why-Women-Everywhere-Will-Delete-Uber-On-April-19

Questions That I'm Asked The Most.

Would You Rather...

A lot of my passengers tend to ask  me questions about driving for Uber/Lyft. 

Some of the most asked about questions are as follows: 

1. Would you rather drive for Lyft or Uber? 

Answer: Since, I'm still new to the Lyft system, I'm not quite sure which I prefer...yet. Get back to me on that one. 

2. Do you feel safe? 

 Answer: Great question! Honestly, there are times when I do have a brief anxiety moment where someone gets into my car and the thought that runs through my head is: "Please, don't put a gun to my head!". Sometimes...yes, I feel safe. 

3. When did you start driving for Uber?

Answer:  Late November, 2015. 

4. Do you like to drive for Uber? 

Answer: Yes!  To me, it's not a job and I do like to drive. I do a lot of travel photography so, I'm already driving. Why not get paid for it? 

5.  How often do you drive? 

Answer:  I tend to drive from as little  as 10 hours a week to almost 20 hours a week. I consider myself to be a part-time driver...for now.

 

6. How much money do you make? 

Answer:  Roughly, an extra $400 a month on top of my current salary.

 

7.  How does one become an Uber/Lyft driver? 

Answer:  Another great question! 

Type into the search box on your browser : http:www. uber.com 

There will be a drop down menu or a search box for Driving for Uber or do what I did...connect to Uber via Facebook. Which is what I also did for Lyft. The ads popped up in my newsfeed and I just clicked on the link. 

Here's a very frequently asked question from both men and women passengers: 

Do you carry a weapon? 

Answer: If you are meaning a hand gun...No.  I do feel that it would be in violation of Uber's  and Lyft's policies and guidelines. 

The next question is: 

How will you protect yourself if the need arises? 

Answer:  I pray to God that the need never arises but in today's day and age it is best to have some basic self defence knowledge regardless of where I might be at the time. 

 I have read articles about pepper spray is not very effective because it does need to be used at close range and it is banned in some venues such as airports and sports arenas etc. Not a fan of pepper spray to begin with.  What is now recommended by some law enforcement agencies is the use of...bug spray! 😳

Whaaat?  Seriously?! Yeah, bug spray is more effective than pepper spray because it shoots up to 20 feet away!  It's recommended to have a can by your night stand/bed side  table in case of home invasion. I've been told by family members...more than once,  to have a can of Raid™in my car within reach...at all times. 

I do follow some guidelines such as park in a well-lit areas, keep your doors locked at all times, cell/mobile phones fully charged to used at a moment's notice, be fully aware of your surroundings, check under your car before entering, have your keys in hand between fingers to be used as a weapon before leaving a building whether it's dark or light out, verify the name of your passenger before they get into your car, check the back seat of your vehicle before getting into it,  don't leave the keys in the car with the motor running and the driver's door left wide open, keep all electronic devices and their accessories out of sight and put purse on the floor. However, the best defence, is never to put oneself into a precarious situation. With that being said, Life is full of the unexpected and the worst of crimes can happen to the best of people in some of the most considered safest area. 

Upon leaving my car, most of my passengers tell me to : " Be Safe!" in return, I've wished them the same.

Once again, a big thanks to all you read my blog! 

Vielen Dank! 

Ratings.

Hey! Sorry it's been awhile. I've been driving for both Uber and Lyft. Doing a lot of comparing betwixt the two as to see which is the better gig. Both Lyft and Uber have a lot of similarities such as driver rating, ride acceptance rating, passenger rating, Prime Time/ Surge Pricing, and a host of others that are more techincal than anything else. However, I do like the Lyft app for the drivers' profile. A photo is taken by your mentor and is used as your profile pic, then the profile can be edited. This gives the passenger an idea of who is coming to pick them up and also a picture of the car used to pick up passengers. Uber just shows the driver's profile pic, their rating status and what kind of car they will be showing up in. Soz, still comparing as far as who seems to use Ubet versus Lyft. Yes, I'm talking about demographics. 

Lyft passengers ratings of Lyft drivers. 

Lyft asks  their clients to rate the  driver who recently provided transportation. It's the same for the drivers. However, it's common practice amongst both ride sharing companies. The exception is, Uber,  it's optional for the passengers to rate their drivers. Lyft seems to require it. This is my personal observation from convos from Lyft and Uber passengers. That can be a good or bad thing. I've noticed with Iber, yes, I started out at Five Starts and through the course of time, my ratings have fluctuated. Currently, I'm at 4.73 stars out of 5 which I was told by an Uber rep...I'm doing fine.

I have noticed a pattern developing with some cleinter and to be fair, whether it's Lyft  or Uber it's the same scenario. 

I have noticed that my ratings seem to drop off when I'm not as engaging with a passenger due to the fact, they have their nose buried in their phone! Brace yourselves this is where the rant begins! 

I respect the privacy of my passengers and if they choose to look at the phones, that is fine by me. I can focus on giving a safe ride and especially, here in southeastern Michigan, Winter hadn't left! So,  roadways can be icy or snow covered at times. Yeah, it's important to have a driver use caution when driving in these instances. I'll glance in my rear view mirror to check on my passenger and yes, their phone is more important than me! I'll ask some questions as to which way to turn or something of that nature because this sort of pasenger wants to give me directions instead of GPS. I've also leaned to use GPS( per Uber instructions) in these times, for back up purposes.  When it's all said and done after the ride is over and I have given my ratings, I'll check to see if the passenger has  rated me yet.

 With Lyft, it's very similar except, passengers can leave a message for Lyft  support as can drivers. I seem to go down in ratings or not rated at all  which greatly affects  my driver's ratings!

 Heads up people, if you, as a pasenger( in whichever country or city) rate your driver less than five stars because they didn't talk enough or taked too much whilst you're  Facebooking, Snap Chatting Tweeting or surfing the web, I'm not the problem here! I am trying to get to you to your destination safely and as quickly as possible! #justsaying Take that into consideration because it can have drivers removed from the driving platform if their ratings dip way below less than 5 stars! It totally pisses me off! 😡

Okay...rant over! 

Readers: Take note. Not all of my passengers who are on their mobile devices fall into this scenario. Some do engage in conversation with me. Unfortunately, the vast majority do not. This is solely based on my observations as a driver for both companies. 

A BIG SHOUT OUT AND THANK  YOU TO ALL WHO GENEROULSY GIVEN ME GRATUTIES! 💵

MUCHAS GRACIAS!  

Side note: sorry about the usage of differ at fonts..:I'm a dork! I forgot to switch! 😋

Road Trip with Lyft/Uber!

Road Tripping To LaLa land...L.A.🚗💨

Last weekend, I drove some buddies to Ann Arbor...A2, in Michigan. Big college town! Home of The University of Michigan. GO BLUE! 🏈💙💛

We were enroute to the Blue Leprechaun.

 We started out in Livonia and it was a fun ride! My take on it was that the guys worked together and were going to meet up with some girls they knew at the bar for a night of drinking and carousing.

 I was driving for Lyft that night. After some ice breaking small talk, the front passenger  and I clicked immediately and I don't how the subject came up but one of the back seat passengers had asked me if I knew that I was supposed to be driving them to Chicago! 

No...not really but then, all of us started supposing about a road trip out west.  Los Angeles, California was the general consensus for a destination. Would I drive them? Of course, a price determination would have to be set, would Lyft sanction the ride, etc. We kept creating a scenario about where to stop for pit stops, sleeping arrangements, coffee breaks, who would pay for the gas, how long would it take to drive out to Los Angeles, what month to leave in and how long to stay. Of course, I could be the only driver.  

Once there, oodles of tourists attraction await! . My inner question was: " when will we start getting on each other's nerves?". 

 Sounds like major fun. 

Maybe...someday. 

Who knows. 

Thanks to all for reading my blog! 

Maiden Voyage

Wanna Lyft? 

Tonight, was my first ever drive for Lyft. I started after 7 pm this evening because I half felt about taking the night off. After a brief siesta(worked all day at my day job) I got in the car and turned on the Lyft app. I had a game plan. I would drive for Lyft a bit and if I hadn't gotten any ride requests, I would switch to Uber. I had been driving for a half hour and no requests came in for Lyft and at one point, I had both apps open. The first ride request was from Uber and I went that. 

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Passenger❗️

 

After driving for Uber a bit, I closed the app and opened the Lyft app. My very first ride request came through about 5 mins later. I picked up my passenger and the cool thing with Lyft, is not only do you see your passenger's name, rating, you can also see a bit of info about them. Great tip for convos! Also, passengers have the option of uploading a profile picture to their profile whilst Uber does not. With Uber, a driver is given the passenger's first name and their rating ...only. 😏 It wasn't a long ride but my passenger  and I clicked right from the start! I also didn't want to let her know she was my first Lyft passenger. Long story short, this passenger was rated a five star and I could see why. She was  walking  out the door when I pulled up, the drop off destinations was already entered. We had a very interesting convo and when the ride was over, Lyft has a rating system for their passengers(as does Uber) but a driver can leave a brief message about the passenger! If only this option was available with Uber. The beauty of Lyft is, if a driver gives a pasenger lower than a  five star rating such  as a three star, the driver will never have to pick up that passenger again! Not so much with Uber.  

Side note: I've had where I had a request from one pasenger two days in a row  with Uber and I accepted the rider and when I saw the pick up destination...I cringed. This was a passenger who was close to being a passenger  from Hell! All I can say is...he chose the thug wanna be life...well, he tried to choose  anyways. Luckily, he cancelled  the ride! Whew! Dodged that bullet! This is where the Lyft rating system would come into play and work for the driver but I digress...

Lord...have Mercy! 😁

My last ride of the night turned out to be a bumpy ride...not literally but figuratively. My first clue should have been the many times she called me before I reached the pick up destination. Picked up an older  woman who had a penchant for dominating the convo, was a bit too nosy and gave confusing directions! I had GPS running but I did ask her and she wanted to give me directions instead. Mind you, I'm not bothered if my passengers ask me where I'm from and how long have I been driving for Uber/Lyft but I don't care for when a passenger wants to know about my private life i.e " Do you have kids?". This is a topic, I'd rather stay away from because it's really none of their business. I get the making small talk or conversation ice breakers but don't ask me about my private  life. Ain't your business! I don't ask about yours...don't ask abut mine! 'Nuff said! She also had a penchant for not telling me to turn until it was almost too late! The first time it  occured, I very nearly made a Motown slide left turn at a green light at a busy intersection because  she hadn't  told me to turn left or right until I asked which way! Oh! Good Lord! (Face palms) I'm nearing  the drop off location and follow her directions to the letter...or so I thought!

 Basically,  her giving me directions boiled   down to her telling me to turn at the precise moment when I should have  been already in position to turn and then getting a bit testy because I  had to turn around a couple times before driving into  her complex due to her unclear directions!

 So glad when she got out of my car! I didn't give a five star rating and left a message that she gave confusing directions and was a bit impatient! Hope I be never cross paths with her again!

Side note: a Motown slide is when a driver makes a left or right urn from the furthest lane possible. They slide right through the lane and make the turn instead of changing lanes to make the turn.  It's an illegal move. 

Thanks so much to all who read my blog! It's truly appreciated! 

Be safe! 

Stay safe and safe travels! 🚗 💨vroom! Vroom! 

Back In The Saddle Again!

On The Road Again.

It felt so good this evening to get out and about driving once again for Uber. I actually missed driving! 😳Who'd a thunk it?🤓 

Haunted? 

Tonight's trips went well...I though anyways and more than one passenger told me that I was the best driver they've had this far!(blush). 

I did have a couple of business men that I was driving to a sushi bar which rumor has it the restaurant is supposedly haunted! I have had other passengers mention it to me before, too. It's Shiro in Novi, Michigan on the corner of Novi  and Nine Mile Roads. Big white house with pillars in front which has three stories. I'm told by a worker that the third floor women's room is where the ghost(s)👻 supposedly hang out. My passengers, tonight, told me they'd let me know if Shiro is actually full of paranormal activity. 😋  

Short blog posts for tonight. 

Thanks to all who read my blog. 

Safe travels! 🚗

Something So Simple!

Success!

After having sent numerous emails to Uber and having them replying back to try to help fix the issue of not being able to downloaded the current version of the Uber partner app, it was suggested to me by a representative by the name of Jake(from Uber not State Farm) that I visit my local Uber support center! I have been wanting to talk to someone in person to show exactly what I was up a against! I did so, last night after getting off from my day job. Lo and behold, after reading the emails, the Uber rep starting trouble shooting my phone and turns out, it was a very simple fix! She disabled the VPN defender and sure enough, the download of the partner commenced! VPN defender does not recognise apps from browsers only from The App Store or Google Play and consequently when it tried to download from all the links sent to me by the reps at Uber, I kept getting the 403 forbidden messages! 😏  I bet you're asking yourself:" Why didn't you try to disable the VPN defender yourself?" Well, I did on my break at work and tried to download the partner but to no avail! The rep also turned off the Wifi(at Uber) et voila...c'est magie! IT WORKED!  I gave her a hug! I was soooo happy! ☺️

Online!

I spent, maybe a total of 15 minutes in the support center from wait to leaving! The Uber rep(I wanted to get her name but felt a bit awkward about asking) got me back online and I was ready to get driving. It has been a while week since I had driven and was antsy to get back on the road. I had missed Friday, Saturday nights for driving. I make good money on those nights including tips! Bring a holiday weekend, the demand for rides is always high. You can see why I was so anxious about not being online and able to pick up rides! 

Update: UberEats.

There now is an app in The App Store for UberEats but sadly, it is in limited areas. The areas are listed in the app itself check to see if your area is listed before downloading the app. 

 

Thanks so much to all who read my blog! 

Suspended?!

  Anxious Frustration

I have spent most of this afternoon trying to upgrade the Uber partner/driver  app to no avail! Numerous hard resets after hard resets, rebooting the phone too many times to count, signing in and out to the point of WTF?! 😠. I check my emails to see if Uber had sent me anything that would cause me to think I've been removed or suspended from the drivers' platform. Thankfully...NOTHING!  Whew! Big sigh of relief there. The question that begs to be answered is...why can't I upgrade the app, then?

Point Of Tears.

Much to my chagrin, all my trouble shooting isn't working. I want to drive tonight. I haven't driven since Tuesday and Saturday night is a big night for $$$ and I want  to be able to cash! By this time I've emailed Uber Support andimpatiently  waiting a reply. Biting my fingernails...Yes! I'm frustrated because I I'm thinking was: "I suspended?"! Blinking back tears, I read the email from Uber support. They apologise for the incidence and let me know they are aware of the problem and trying to resolve it but my question goes  unanswered.😏. I can only guess that I haven't been suspended and for a small brief window , I'm able to gain access to the website and my profile to find my rating is a 4.92! 

Arghhh!

That brief window has now been slammed shut again! However, I did get to download the app (deleted it previously) only to find it will install but won't load! 😬Pulling my hair time! Time's awasting and Time is money! Tick Tock!⏰  

R.I.P. André and Modou: We Hardly Knew Ye.

Taken too soon! 

Such sad news as of late, what with the terrorist attacks in Belgium and now, closer to home....two Uber drivers randomly shot at and killed whilst driving for Uber. One in Detroit, Michigan on Saturday and the other, Inglewood, California on Sunday. Both occurred in the wee hours of the morning. The shootings are unconnected but why did someone or somebody feel that they needed to play God and decide who dies that day? Makes no sense whatsoever. 

 

Uneasy Feeling. 

I have driven to drop passengers off in the area of Livernois and Joy road where the Detroit driver was shot twice and ended up crashing his SUV into a tree. he later died at the hospital  from his wounds.😢

 It always makes me uneasy...lone white woman driving in these parts of Detroit where shootings have occurred...Fenkell and Greenfield, Livernois and Joy etc.  

I was always told: "Look straight ahead. Don't  make eye contact. Keep your doors locked and your purse should be on the floor not on the passenger seat and if someone approaches  your vehicle while at a redlight, step on the gas and go!" Words to live by. Literally! 

This is the third time that I've heard of shootings in areas where I have dropped passengers off. Too close for comfort! 😬

After learning about the latest shooting whereas a death has occurred,  I refuse to pick up any passengers who request rides in this area. The downside of Uber is, once you confirm you've picked up your passenger, then and only then  is when  you find out where they want to to be dropped off.😏

 I have had requests from dicey and sketchy parts of Detroit and I've declined. I've gone offline at these times. 

Side note: Uber recommends going off line to avoid getting a lower  acceptance rating when a driver declines more than one ride request  in a row.  

Yes, drivers  are rated on how many rides they accept whilst online.

 I've had many friends tell me to be careful when I announce that I'll be "Ubering" that night. I've  had  many moments when someone gets in my car and the first thought that comes to mind is" Please don't rob me!".

I can't control where people want to be dropped off but I can choose when to pick up in a bad part of town or not whether, it's Detroit, Inkster, Romulus, Garden City...just to name a few. Now, mind you, even  in West Bloomfield(an affluent northern suburb) crime happens, too!  

I don't carry cash on me whilst driving and I've been asked more than once by friends and passengers if I have a weapon to defend me if needed. The answer is no and I really feel that Uber would not feel that it's appropriate or professional for one of their drivers  to be carrying a gun or a large knife for protection purposes. I have been told by my family tonight that driving in the hoods in Detroit is a no go! I'm not arguing! 

👉🏼A GoFundme account has been set up for the UberDetroit driver👈🏼

Type in the search box: Support for Uber Driver Killed. 

 Sorry, it's basic but since, he leaves behind three small  children(under 6) and a pregnant  by wife with no means of support, I hope 

donations will come in.

I wish I had more information about the California driver but I don't.

Peace to all! ✌🏼️

Thanks to all for reading my blog.  

Fingers Crossed I Pass Inspection!

Driving for Lyft.

 I just had my mentor session with a top Lyft driver. Everything went well...so far. I do have to pass the background check which I'm told that can take 2 or 3 days. That's a lot more faster than Uber. My background check took 3 weeks! They emailed me on the status, every so often,   which I appreciated. It was also noted (by the mentor)that I didn't have enough seat belts. However, I do have 5 which is the minimum requirement. 

Watch this space. 

My mentor drives for both Uber and Lyft and prefers Lyft. Uber has more passengers but Lyft drivers can make more money! $$ 

Due To Technical Difficulties....

Arghhh!!!

I'm so ready to pull my hair out!! No, not from my clients. They've been really cool and I've had some really great convos this evening. It's my freaking phone!  I kept getting network error messages. Some ride requests would come through and for some inexplicable reason, I wasn't able to accept them despite numerous tapping on the acceptance circle which how it works through the driver app. Then, I kept getting a sending message(similar to a loading message )failure to update feed...for the navigation app.😏 I resorted to doing a reboot via the Help menu suggestion.

At this moment, the phone is behaving. For how long, who knows? 

St. Patrick's Day! ☘🍻

Everyone's Irish Today. 

So, I received an email from Uber asking if I had planned on driving on St. Patrick's Day! Of course, I did! I RSVPed which confirmed my drive. 

Today is St. Patrick's Day and as I'm driving...I noticed the wearing of the green. Right now, I'm parked in a shopping mall parking lot and have had only one ride request! Whaaat?! Yeah...that's right, one ride request.😏 I couldn't drive during the day because I had to work my day job. Uber texts their drivers(for those who sign up for SMs) to let them know ride demand and all that. Waiting on my second trip of the night. 

Everybody must be getting their drink on and will want rides later on tonight. Fingers crossed. 

UberEATS.

Uber Does Food Delivery! 

Update: I emailed partnersdetroit@uber.com and inquired about food delivery. Yes! Uber is in the food delivery business as UberEATS.. There is an app to download which is free on the App Store. I will supply a link to  click on for those who are interested. Sadly, though, it's not available...yet, in the Detroit area but I'm was assured it is being worked on. I wil have more details once I get them.

Stay tuned. 

http://www.UberEats.com 

St. Practice Day! ☘🍻

St. Patrick's Day. 

 In Detroit, the Sunday before St. Patrick's Day is when the annual St. Patrick's parade is held in Corktown. It's also known  as  St. Practice Day.  I don't think I need to explain why! 🍻🍺😋 Unfortunately, I couldn't take advantage of the premium times to pick up and drop off passengers due to the fact, I was working at my day job. 

 I did receive an email from Uber asking if I plan on driving this St. Paddy's Day in which I emailed back promptly with a big resounding "YES!". 

 

Here's my PSA: 

Want to have fun on St. Paddy's? Call for an Uber pick up. 

Why? 

Drunk driving...you can't afford it. 

Boy! Was My Face Red! 😳

My Faux Pas.

I had a really great conversation with a passenger who was thankful for so much in his life. We talked about so much and he kept saying that he was a simple person who don't ask or expect too much out of life. Just so grateful for every good opportunity that came his way! So inspiring! 

He asked which side I preferred,  not aware that he was asking me about the upcoming presidential election. I replied with that I prefer men all the way. I don't switch hit. Next thing you know he starts talking about the Donald( Donald Trump) and Hillary Clinton! 

D'oh!! 😳I thought he was hitting on me! Thank goodness that it was dark and he didn't see how red my face was!

 I recovered nicely(I thought) with a comment  about the Donald...if elected) will have to deal with a Congress who's members are not big fans of his! 

As I drove off, I kept thinking what a big dork I was!! 🤓

Thank goodness the passenger didn't twig on!

 Whew! Dodged that bullet! ☺️

ZINGED!!

WHAT THE WHAT THE?!

 I have a habit of checking my ratings after a night of driving. Idk if other drivers do this but ratings are important to Uber and to me. I look at my all-time trips, how many were rated and then how many were 5 stars. Uber wants their drives to provide the best Uber experience possible and I agree with that. It's all about customer service. At my day job, we refer to it as ECC and it's vital to maintaining to a high standard. 

I've been hovering around a. 4.7 rating for a bit. Not great(in my eyes) but I do a mental checklist of potential problems/issues that could affect my ratings from the drives the night before. 

Uber gives all their partners a breakdown of ratings, problems reported and pro tips for the drivers to use as guidelines. 

Things seem to have gone well last night. I try to get a read on my passengers as they get into my car and also during the ride. Like I said, there weren't any signs that I might receive a less than favourable rings. However, I got ZINGED!! 😳

Where did it go wrong and when?

Was it the lady who was concerned about Surge pricing? Surge pricing, I have no control over. Best to check  when it's happening and plan the ride accordingly.  Was it the young couple off to a night on the town at a supper club for dinner and dancing? She called to tell me that I had missed the turn. I informed her that there was a motorcyclist following too close and for fear of causing a bad accident, I turned at the next corner. Did she feel that the pick up wasn't timely? Mind you, I waited from them to come outside once I arrived at their apartment complex.  Who was it? Why? What could I have different done to prevent it? Questions...questions.

 Alas and alack...I may never know. 😏

Saturday Night's Alright For Driving.

Sprechen Sie Deutsch, Ja?

There's  always one or two passengers that I feel an instanteous bond with during my rides. 

The ride request was to pick up a passenger at the Amtrak Train Station on Michigan Ave in Dearborn, Mi. 

A young college student boarded my car. As I drove off, I asked him about traveling by train. Did he like it? Me, I love to travel by train. The Public Transport system in Michigan is lacking. The big push for years, was to buy a car but that trend has since shifted. His answer was in the affirmative. The convo started off about trains then quickly segued into travelling parts of Europe...specifically Germany! A kindred spirit! I haven't been to Germany since 1993 or 4(can't remember, it's been that long)and my passenger,  he had travelled parts of Germany as part of a study group and also whilst on Spring break. 

We both developed a longing for Getman food...Spätzle , Saur Braten, Cream of Asparagus Soup, Potato Dumplings 

and my fave, Frittaten Zuppe! I regaled him with tales of traveling to Liechtenstein Switzerland , Austria. He told me of visiting Berlin and love the diversity of the city! Time to get back to Germany was the general consensus for the both of us!   We arrived at his drop off location and bid Auf Wiedersehn to each other. 

I need to renew my passport. 

To GPS Or Not To GPS...That Is The Question.

Per Uber's recommendation, it's really a good idea for all drivers to ask their passengers if they prefer GPS or not. I'm no exception. 

The first run of the night started innocently enough. Back to an apartment complex that I had been to previously. Arriving at the correct building, I pulled into the circle drive and contacted my passenger. I was then told that I would be picking up a member of the caller's  family not the actual  caller. I, then began...The Wait.  Right then and there that should have been my first clue that the ride would not go well.  

Finally, my passenger showed up! I greeted them, informed them of the cell phone chargers  available for their use and asked: " Do you prefer to tell me the route or would you like me to use GPS?". As to the passenger didn't know how to get to the destination, GPS was the answer. Off we go. 

Luckily, this passenger didn't speak English well but unfortunately for me, she began listening to a game show with very annoying tinny music that was on loop. Oh...the humanity! I couldn't understand what was being said because it was in another language which was alright but I would have liked for her to turned down the volume some.  I didn't ask her to for fear of coming across as being rude. In hindsight, that fear was all for naught! 

That should have been the second sign.

  

Halfway through, the trip, my passenger  begins to question the route that I was talking. Mind you, she did say use GPS. Not being familiar with the place I was driving her to, I wasn't sure if was headed in the right direction, myself. After hearing her continually asking  about why we going this way, she makes a phone call and tells the person on the other end or I guess she tells them that I don't know where I was going. I don't know what she was saying because she was speaking in her native tongue which I have no cognisance of!  Mind you whilst this is going on, she keeps telling me: "I don't care, use GPS."!  I ask her more than once if she wanted to give me directions. She declines due to the fact she didn't know  how to get there. I'm starting  to get frustrated but try to keep calm. She tells me to talk the man on the phone who then proceeds to find out my exact location and then tells me how to get to her destination. When it's all said and done, I wanted the ride to be over and her out of my car. I drop her off and then I thought: " Oh great! Now, I have to rate her!". Worst part was, she wasn't the caller who the rating would be attributed to! I wanted to be fair to the caller and gave him a five star rating.

Come to find out I was reported by them  for bad city knowledge which dropped my ratings  below five stars! Gee thanks so much! ⬅️ SARCASM In actualIty ,their rating should have been less then five stars. I know this now! I vowed to myself if their  name pops up on my screen  ever again, I'm going let that one pass! 

Chalk that one up to experience and move on.

 

Sidenote: I have been informed by Uber to use GPS when in times when it's necessary. This was one of those times. 

I Call Trumpp(s)!

Off to the strip club we go! 

My next trip request was two best buds.

 Friday night and it's all about having a good time with some pretty ladies and alcoholic bevvies!

The  Initial destination was to a nearby Gentleman's Club which is  very popular and tonight was no exception. First off, though, was a quick visit to an ATM for some "tip" money! 

 After much discussion, the best buds opted for The Penhouse which I believe is affiliated with the publication. I didn't mind driving them around because they were funny, polite, nice and all around a couple of cool dudes! Sometimes during a trip, a pass eve might request stopping off at a store, banks etc. I oblige because it's en route. 

Convos were back and forth with the bffs about which club to go to. Finding out that the Pentouse was SRO, Trumpps won that round! 

The night is still young

P.SA. Want to drink and not have to drive? Call for an Uber pick up! 

. 

Put It In D: The Barmaid

Having completed my first run of the night...trip to Downtown Detroit...The D! These are my fave rides because I love driving on the expressway into Downtown! Whether it be the Lodge, 75, 94, 96 or the Davison, it's always fun to drive! Detroit has/is experiencing a rebirth! My passenger, the barmaid was working tonight in a neighbourhood bar but one of the distinctive bars that is must visit when in Detroit! Tommy's Bar and Grill. Located on Third Street near the Financial District and Fox Theatre.  Fun passenger, too! Had a great convo about Belle Isle State Park, living in Detroit, and the city itself! I hope to get her again. 

P.S.Thanks for the gratuity!

The night is just getting started. 

Drive Smarter...Not Harder.

One thing I've learned to do...as of late,  is park my car instead of driving around whilst waiting for a ride request. My car is a lease vehicle and mileage is one thing I have to constantly be aware of. I'm online is of now. There's surge pricing in the area which is the usual for Friday and Saturday nights. 

So...I wait. 

To be continued.

Friday Night Drives

Tonight, I drive until the wee o'clock or close enough!

Here I sit at a local gas station...fueling up my car  and giving it a look over with a  judicious eye and decided...car wash! Can't really pick up people in a dirty car. Just can't! I want good ratings tonight and I feel that showing up in a dirty car is a detractor. Onto the car wash! 

Uber Does Take Out Delivery?

So, another day at my day job and I keep getting texts and emails from Uber about how it's a really good time to drive. Of course, I'd rather do that than what I'm doing but c'est la vie.

A gentleman comes into my line and we get to discussing GPS...which ones that work really well and I let on to him that I drive for Uber. He begins to tell me how many twenty somethings would rather call for a ride from Uber than actually own a car. 

This is something that  I have noticed and makes a lot of sense to me. However, what came out of his mouth next made think: "Hey, I could totally go for that!"...food delivery! He has heard that Uber will deliver food! Brilliant! I will be emailing Uber to see if is actual or just rumour.

Watch this space. 

The Ride Share Driver Experience

Welcome to the Ride Share Driver Blog!

Hi...my name is Jan and I started driving for Uber Detroit as an Uber X driver in late November, 2015. I'm from Detroit, Miciigan. 

 

 This blog is about my personal experiences working for the ride share company. 

These are my stories.

THE INAUGURAL RUN.

My very first run as an Uber x driver! I didn't know what to expect!  Even though, I had previously viewed the video from Uber informing me about what is expected from their driver/partners... I was a noob...a newbie. 

 The request was pickup of a passenger at a local shopping Super Center. I did everything according to Uber's instruction video...using the navigation app to find the store and found my client without incident. I was actually nervous but tried not to let my client twig on to that fact.  She had several large shopping bags and items and I thought:" I drive a Chevy Cruze...how will it all fit?!". My client was very sweet and I offered the use of my trunk but it was declined  Between the two of us, we somehow manged to get all items including passenger to fit in the back seat!

SOCIAL ANXIETY ATTACK.

My thoughts are at this time...
"Please, Please, don't expect me to engage in small chat!" 
Of course, the client was on the talkative side and not wanting to across as being rude...I had to oblige by answering the queries of the passenger.  The ride ended up very nicely.  The passenger offered me a tip but I declined due to the fact, they were saving up for a new TV.  I ended the trip, rated my client 5 stars and moved onto the next ride.. All in all... a great start!

SUBSEQUENT TRIPS.

Much later on, I wrapped up my first trips, that Friday night and was feeling quite chuffed!  I had made some money, the passengers were friendly and nice, gold stars all around to those who rode with me. Easy Peasy...or so,  I thought. I decided to drive the next night...Saturday.  Since, it was my day off from my full-time day job(I work for a major drugstore chain)I knew I could chill in the morning and drive for Uber that night.  After all, I did want enjoy my day off.

It was already dark when I received the first request. This time, I was picking up a passenger from a residential address. Turned on the navigation app and was off!  I arrived at the destination after several turn arounds trying to find the correct address which was quite difficult as to some of the houses had the numbers on the curbside mailboxes and the others were on the house! I used the app which tells the driver when I had arrived at my destination which a green bar pops up with a person icon to indicate I'm at the right place. Honestly, I took me awhile to figure out how that really works.
 Finally, I find the home, park in the drive way, a message on the screen tells me the rider has been notified and thusly, I begin...THE WAIT.

THE WAIT.

THE WAIT is my term that I use when parked, waiting on a passenger and it is going onto the five minute mark. I try to be fair and have heard from other clients that they appreciate a patient driver. I've learned to contact the client via text message or call them to inquire if they have requested an Uber pickup.

 So, here I am parked in someone's drive and no one has come to the door to acknowledge me! I look at the time and decide to cancel the ride citing 'rider no show" as the reason. Driving off onto the main road,  my screen starts pinging with a new ride request. A driver has 60 seconds to accept the ride which I promptly did.  Lo and behold, this request turned out to be my ride which I had cancelled! Wait..what?  Long story short, the passenger had entered the pick up data and somehow, don't ask me how, there was a glitch and I received the wrong pickup information!  I apologized to the passengers, there were two,informing them I  had been directed to go to a residential area not a shopping mall! Mind you, I quickly sussed out that both had been imbibing in alcoholic beverages. Both of my riders were nice and the caller had mentioned to me that the ride had been cancelled and was concerned about being charged twice.  Not knowing how to answer that issue, I suggested that my client contact Uber.  My very first Saturday night wasn't getting off on a good note but thankfully, the rest of my trips were uneventful.  I was feeling frustrated, having issues with my phone dying and not being able to charge it, listening to the comments being made by first passenger about being charged twice...I called it a night. 

I started making notes to self...i.e.extra phone charger, taking breaks etc.





Side Note: At this time, I have to inform the reader  that I can come across as being aloof.  I'm not anti-social but selectively social. There are some people I warm up to very quickly and there are others that....well, um...not so much.  At times, not at all! Unfortunately, my day job requires a perky, gregarious person and it's quite a stretch..at times for me! However, driving for Uber...I found out that it depends on my passenger(s)! What Luck!