[Native Austinite]

We seem to be confused. RideCares gives you a way within Uber policies (if you follow our policies) for pax to know and ask you about how you donate a portion of your tips.

Again, if you know anything about Uber, there are no tips. Uber went so far as to send emails to pax reassuring them that Drivers dont require tips; That we are well compensated enough. After that email went out I have seen time and time again, man reaches toward pocket for tip; wife puts hand on man's hand and says its not necessary.

So when we do get it a tip its like a drop of water in a desert. Sorry, but tips are barely enough to cover gas for the day. If you disagree I will point you to thousands of drivers who are about to strike over a tip button (and low fare rates). We just don't get much at UBER.

Lyft has a tip button; perhaps you'll have more success with them. The floor is yours.

 

[Nate R]

I am pretty sure Kyle works for Uber.

 

[Stratos]

I'm positive Kyle has no clue what it is like to be a driver.

 

[Kyle Hoskins]

Thanks for opening it up Native Austinite.

I am a full time consultant and web developer. I started driving Lyft in July 2014 and Uber November 2014 to help get party goers home from bars and raise money for charity. What I found is that conversations about causes people cared about made for really positive experiences

I developed RideCares for a couple reasons:
1) Ridesharing is a unique platform of engagement. With every random stranger, we have a chance to a mundane small talk conversation into an extraordinary experience.
2) Ridesharing is part of the "abandoned" service industry segments when it comes to tips.

Combine the two and you get RideCares.

The only hope to make money from uber driving is surges, or with Select, Lux, or XL. HOWEVER there are other ways to make money like referring and getting tips which as you mentioned are very uncommon.

While it would be nice if everyone could just get their own Select car for free, that's not possible,

So, how do you get more money for free?!?! You need MORE TIPS!!
Well, perhaps make a placard that mentions Uber's tipping policy. Perhaps introduce a tip jar. Both have been effective at getting more tips for various drivers, but they are both against Uber policy and can get you deactivated. (Source: Uber.. not the robot, actual employees)

UGH! Now what? Well guess what? A sticker in your car (which you can view on the RideCares site) that says "This ride supports a cause. Ask me about ridecares" with a link to your personal RideCares site is not against Uber policy. If a passenger brings it up, you are allowed to explain what it is. "RideCares is a community of rideshare drivers making a difference. While tipping is not necessary with Uber, on the occasion I receive them, I donate [10-100%] of my tips to [a cause you personally care about]" (and oh yeah, your personal ridecares site- has three methods to receive online tips via paypal, venmo, or square cash)

If you're wondering what's in it for me: I lose money. Plain and simple. This is my gift to both drivers and causes. Luckily I have a full-time job that's NOT FOR UBER and gives me lots of flexibility to pull something off like this.

In about a month we're over 20 drivers with a few joining every week, and I'm spending a lot to start raising awareness for passengers of RideCares. The more passengers that know about it, the more they will recognize the stickers and tip drivers. (I have 1,000 koozies I'll be passing out at the ACL dropoff tomorrow, social media ads, promo cards, etc...)

Consider this a campaign for more tips across the entire rideshare industry. You're right, passengers think they cannot tip drivers because that was Uber's original language "DO NOT TIP DRIVERS!" (which has been lightened), when in actuality, they can tip us.

 

[ATX 22]

We'll gladly donate our 5☆. Kyle Hoskins , but tips are few and far between with Uber. 1 in 10 riders or less bothers with a tip, and the tips barely cover a late night meal or something to drink for a couple of nights, but that's it.

 

[Kyle Hoskins]

P.S. I know more about rideshare driving and the industry than anyone should ever know haha. Come to one of the Lyft meetups every Tuesday or Wednesday and we can chat. We welcome all rideshare drivers (and even kids/dogs). I've been to 95% of them for the last 4 months, and as I mentioned, started driving July 2014. Know nothing? I beg to differ. (if Uber Drivers Austin Facebook group had regular meetups, I'd attend those, but it doesn't appear we do)

 

[Stratos]

Waste of my time and pax's time to do this.

 

[Kyle Hoskins]

What time are you referring to? The time it takes you to put a personal, customizable sticker or two in your car? (that I deliver to drivers, for free of course) The passenger doesn't spend any time either. If they recognize the sticker or are curious and mention it, they can. Otherwise, they ignore it. No time taken.

 

[Backdash]

P.S. I know more about rideshare driving

Rideshare.... You really think that's what this is?
I provide a service and get paid for that service.
What exactly am I sharing?

 

[Stratos]

What time are you referring to? The time it takes you to put a personal, customizable sticker or two in your car? (that I deliver to drivers, for free of course) The passenger doesn't spend any time either. If they recognize the sticker or are curious and mention it, they can. Otherwise, they ignore it. No time taken.

Waste of my time explaining it to them when 99% of the pax's won't waste their time going on line to do it. Far easier for them to hand over a couple of Bucks if they want to tip me.

 

[Kyle Hoskins]

You can still definitely accept cash tips. I just give you the ability to accept more tips when they say "I would, but I don't have cash, sorry"

And to answer the "ridesharing" question: you are sharing your personal car. Uber Pool and Lyft Line are also the definition of "ridesharing"

 

[Backdash]

And to answer the "ridesharing" question: you are sharing your personal car. Uber Pool and Lyft Line are also the definition of "ridesharing"

I own the car and I use it for personal use and I also use it to transact and conduct business.
The sandwich shop owner owns the store. Sometimes he makes sandwiches for himself, family or friends at no cost to them. When he uses it to transact and conduct the business of making sandwiches is he a sandwich sharing business?

The costs incurred while using my personal car as source of income are calculated as business expense for tax purposes. The income I earn while using my car to generate income is taxed as earned income.

So tell me what I am actually sharing? You know, as in here have half of my slice of pie.
It's nice to share pie with someone.

 

[BramasoleATX]

Any idea to generate a conversation about tips is worth a try.

 

[UberMensch2015]

Yeah I actually like this idea a lot. 50% of something is better than 100% of nothing. I currently get tipped one out of every twenty rides. If this increases it to anything more than one out of 10 it's a win-win. I dig it a lot actually. Good idea.

FYI, this also puts uber in an awkward position. If they come out against it they are coming out against charity. Deal with that pr mess why don't you.

They first charity should be a partnership with MADD. Them on board will give you real heft.

 

[Kyle Hoskins]

Looks like I need to find a driver who supports MADD! That's a great idea! Every driver picks their own cause and the closest to being related to driving so far is Be Kind To Cyclists. Lots of Austin Pets Alive! and other local Austin causes supported so far. The causes seem to like it a lot and several have contacted me/drivers in our first month. I'd change mine to MADD from Keep Austin Beautiful, but they already sent me the draft of the post they want to make about RideCares and haven't published it yet. Can't change from KAB until at least a couple weeks after they do haha.

So far the Lyft and Uber people we've talked to have liked it, but you never know with Uber when they'll decide to change their mind. As you mentioned, better get big and noticed first for that bad publicity if they do!

 

[Fuzzyelvis]

P.S. I know more about rideshare driving and the industry than anyone should ever know haha. Come to one of the Lyft meetups every Tuesday or Wednesday and we can chat. We welcome all rideshare drivers (and even kids/dogs). I've been to 95% of them for the last 4 months, and as I mentioned, started driving July 2014. Know nothing? I beg to differ. (if Uber Drivers Austin Facebook group had regular meetups, I'd attend those, but it doesn't appear we do)

It's not ridesharing in Houston. The ordinance specifically defines ridesharing as distinct from what Uber does.

 

[Native Austinite]

It's not ridesharing in Houston. The ordinance specifically defines ridesharing as distinct from what Uber does.

Ditto for Austin, Uber is labeled a Transportation Network Company.

 

[HornsFan]

Looks like I need to find a driver who supports MADD! That's a great idea! Every driver picks their own cause and the closest to being related to driving so far is Be Kind To Cyclists. Lots of Austin Pets Alive! and other local Austin causes supported so far. The causes seem to like it a lot and several have contacted me/drivers in our first month. I'd change mine to MADD from Keep Austin Beautiful, but they already sent me the draft of the post they want to make about RideCares and haven't published it yet. Can't change from KAB until at least a couple weeks after they do haha.

So far the Lyft and Uber people we've talked to have liked it, but you never know with Uber when they'll decide to change their mind. As you mentioned, better get big and noticed first for that bad publicity if they do!

Dude. You're a real POS to think that we are going to do anything with our tips other than keep them after Uber has stolen them from us with their criminal misinformation campaign. Go sell your bullshit somewhere else because we aren't interested!!!!

 

[Backdash]

Dude. You're a real POS to think that we are going to do anything with our tips other than keep them after Uber has stolen them from us with their criminal misinformation campaign. Go sell your bullshit somewhere else because we aren't interested!!!!

Hey HornsFan speak for yourself. I am not included in your "we" comment above.
I wont be participating in RideCare but not because I think its a bad idea.

 

[HornsFan]

Hey HornsFan speak for yourself. I am not included in your "we" comment above.
I wont be participating in RideCare but not because I think its a bad idea.

Congratulations on posting the most useless comment of the month!!!!