[Native Austinite]

I was on C. Chavez today, not working. A black 4door sedan was rolling along at 15 mph, breaking every 500 feet or so. Then he would speed up a little and back to the intermittent breaking. I looked up the road and literally saw his pax before he did (he was looking at the app).
Two guys standing on the side of the road on C. Chavez with luggage- I assessed the scene pretty quick. He stops on C. Chavez in the middle of the street, didn't even pull over to the curb. At this point the road split into a turn lane so I pull up next to the driver door.
I roll down my window and ask the doe eyed kids if they are waiting on an Uber lol. They said yes and began to approach my vehicle to get in lmao. The guy gets out of the car, nervous as hell. I tell him, "Dont pick up pax in the middle of the street. Your giving us a bad name and your going to get a ticket".
At this point the pax are totally confused about which car they are supposed to get into, and I drive away, laughing.
Wake up, people.

 

[HornsFan]

Just wish Uber understood and cared about such things. Situations like this don't help riders, the city OR Uber itself. And yet.....recruit, recruit, recruit - new drivers. ****, ****, **** - existing drivers. It's pathetic.

 

[ATX 22]

Middle of Cesar Chavez...smh.

 

[Stratos]

Guy is lucky no one rear ended him or him hitting someone because his head was up his phones behind.

 

[Gerardo Morales]

I was on C. Chavez today, not working. A black 4door sedan was rolling along at 15 mph, breaking every 500 feet or so. Then he would speed up a little and back to the intermittent breaking. I looked up the road and literally saw his pax before he did (he was looking at the app).
Two guys standing on the side of the road on C. Chavez with luggage- I assessed the scene pretty quick. He stops on C. Chavez in the middle of the street, didn't even pull over to the curb. At this point the road split into a turn lane so I pull up next to the driver door.
I roll down my window and ask the doe eyed kids if they are waiting on an Uber lol. They said yes and began to approach my vehicle to get in lmao. The guy gets out of the car, nervous as hell. I tell him, "Dont pick up pax in the middle of the street. Your giving us a bad name and your going to get a ticket".
At this point the pax are totally confused about which car they are supposed to get into, and I drive away, laughing.
Wake up, people.

Native Austinite, in the words of Foreigner "You're as cold as ice" lol.

Even as a newb, I still would never stop in the middle of C.Chavez for a pick up, but do you have any other etiquette pointers as an UBER driver to consider? I still get a little nervous with picking up at large events because of road closures, unfamiliar intersections, etc. For example, this weekend I worked after my first UT game and I was overwhelmed with finding a spot to pick them up given all of the traffic of both cars and people. Also, I ran into an issue where I swung by to pick up my pax going by the name of 'John'. I asked the guy what his name was, he says John, and I tell them to hop in. While I'm looking up their destination, I hear a knock at my window and it's another set of pax asking me by name. It just so happened both of their requests were using the name "John". AWKWARD. So from here on out, I'm thinking about asking them what they're wearing when I call to notify I'm in route, or ask for the name of the UBER driver they requested when I get there and then I just confirm. Thoughts? Thanks in advance, all.

 

[ATX 22]

Gerardo, having them verify your name is a great way to be sure you have the correct pax.
Game pickups are problematic because of road closures and idiocy. If pax will work with you and walk to a safe pick-up spot, great, otherwise I will cancel on them and find a more intelligent pax.

 

[krytenTX]

As noobs, we've all made mistakes. Just let them know when they do something stupid so hopefully they don't repeat it.

 

[Gerardo Morales]

Sweet, thanks!

 

[Nate R]

Yes, asking for that info when you know there is a large crowd is good. You can also call the pax to verify the pax getting in is your pax if their phone rings.

 

[Nate R]

Even as a seasoned (2 months is seasoned I guess...) driver I made the noob mistake of not starting the fare on a select trip that lasted over an hour. Was an easy fix but I still felt like a jackass.

 

[HornsFan]

Don't be afraid to call the rider. I used to think it was a little bit rude or whatever but if you think about it...cabs always called you when the driver was there. It might have been dispatch or whatever but it still happened so people are use to it. Just call and say something friendly to let them know you are there. And Definitely call if you are concerned at all about your location or if you are confused in any way and they might be able to help you locate them.

 

[Nate R]

and don't be afraid to tell the pax they need to cancel the request and request another Uber if they put hte push pin a good distance from where they actually are. Less than a mile and I am usually ok with it, beyond that I think for a second and usually decide they need to request again.

 

[Native Austinite]

Well it happened again. I told myself I would handle it professionally if it did. It went down like this:

Driver in front of me is parked at the light of 4th & Colorado. Light turns green and he takes a right on to Colorado. Half way through the turn HE STOPS. Read that again. Half way through the turn HE STOPS, in the intersection. Pax run up, doors start opening. lol

I pull around to the driver side door and ask him to roll down the window (no cars behind us). He does, and I tell him, in a very nice tone, that I drive for Uber too. I ask him if he is picking up for Uber and he tells me yes. I then say, in a calm and professional voice "Could you please not block the ****ing intersection while picking up, its not safe". He seemed ashamed, nervous, and replied, "Yes sir"

Now it might have been my fresh military haircut that commanded his respect, I don't know, but the guy was a lot bigger than me lol.

 

[HornsFan]

Act as if!!

 

[krytenTX]

Just like the Pax that dropped the pin on South Congress (no surge), yet when I arrive, had the balls to call me and say he was downtown (surge), and that I need to drive to him and pick him up! No way dude! Trying to get out of paying surge and make me drive a lot further to pick up? Waited the 5 and cancelled no show. I hope he tried it several times and paid $5 each. Serves him right!

 

[Ziggy]

Yesterday I saw 2 Uber drivers enter the JW driveway from the west side heading east (wrong way) ... and then drive down the sidewalk, because there were cars in both lanes heading west (right way). And I thought "sheesh, seems like Uber's plucking up people off the street and saying 'Do you know what a car is? Great, now drive & make us some money'".

I had a pax the other day who seriously told me they were picked up by Uber X in a 2-door pickup truck (it had a back "seat") with CDs strewn all over the cab ... after that experience, they decided they'd use Select only in the future. *I know that Uber doesn't (hopefully) approve 2-door cars; but obviously, there are a people driving cars that are not registered on the app

 

[ATX 22]

Wonder if that was even the vehicle they registered?
Making a drop at JW last Sunday I saw a driver go on the sidewalk like it was a third lane.
Making some serious life changing money, though.

 

[Nate R]

So I need to pick up/drop off at the JW to get this serious life changing money. Clearly I have been doing it all wrong ATX22

 

[ATX 22]

All you have to do is drive...you can make $20 in a day or you can make $500. It's up to you. I'm still looking for a $200 day that isn't 14 hours driving.

 

[Gerardo Morales]

Are you all doing UBER as DBA and LLC? How do you all handle tax related issues, what are approved write-offs, etc? If there a good thread that covers this? Sorry for going off into a tangent. Thanks ahead of time.