I drive for Uber, and I have used Uber for 3 years.  It is a great way to move 
around town. 

SAFETY is always one of the first questions. It’s safe.  Uber has all the 
personal information of the driver and passenger. Both get pictures of the 
other when you get your ride. 

Other advice:

Be Accurate
In addition to providing an address, give an accurate location of where you 
are. For instance, if you are on the side of the building or back of a drive 
way to three buildings, use the app to send your driver a brief message about 
where you are. “I’m in the middle building with four columns out front.”  If 
you are in the center of downtown send a message like, “We are on the SW corner 
of 4th & Liberty.”
 
When you summons a ride, and you are at a venue like Slugger Field, use that in 
the “SET PICKUP LOCATION” on the app. UBER uses Google Maps, and it has a great 
database of places. The venue shows up on the driver’s map, which helps him or 
her get to you more directly. Here again, send a message that says something 
like, “In front of Pee Wee Reese statue.” Many large venues have pick-up areas 
for ride share vehicles.
 
You can put your destination into the app as well and that will save time when 
you get picked up, as the driver won’t need to put it in to get the fastest 
route for you. If you are going to Game restaurant, for example, you put the 
name in, and it will automatically give you the correct destination address 
which you can tap to choose. That is the way those servers on the backside use 
to facilitate your ride in the shortest way. That’s true for almost any 
business in the area. 
 
 Put in Some Leg Work
If you attended a large gathering, like Forecastle, you can help yourself get a 
ride share vehicle to you quicker if you walk two or three blocks and then use 
the app to get your ride. Your driver won’t be fighting traffic or run into 
streets blocked by LMPD for pedestrian safety. For example, during Waterfront 
Wednesdays, walk to Floyd and the South side of Market street, use the app to 
get a ride, and then send a message to the driver with the corner you are on. 
Or call and tell them so you get the correct ride share vehicle.
 
You can request larger vehicles if you have a group of people. If you have five 
or six you can summons an UberXL, which has ample seating. But, if you have 
seven or more then you should call your driver as soon as you make your request 
to ensure that they can carry every one. Two people in your party can request 
ride share vehicles at the same time, and you can split fares in the app with 
others in your party who have the app. Drivers can’t squeeze in just one more 
as it violates state laws and voids their insurance.
 
 It’s OK to Give Advice
Don’t be afraid to give your driver advice on the route. This is especially 
true if you are going to a subdivision where you live, after a show at any 
venue. You go there all the time, drivers are going to rely on the GPS in the 
app, which is not always the best way. For example, the GPS will give the route 
to use the interstate, which we all know is a mess right now. In fact, using 
River Road is a better way to get out East in many cases.

You get to rate the driver after each trip, but the driver also gets to rate 
you as well. 

Please feel free to drop me a question if you have one about Uber or Lyft. 


Richard D. Meadows


> On Jan 29, 2017, at 5:22 PM, Harry Jacobson-Beyer <[email protected]> wrote:
> 
> Any one have thoughts on Lyft vs. Uber?
> Or thoughts on using either of them?
> 
> Thanks
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