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?