The ridesharing industry is booming and doesn’t look like it will stop or slow down anytime soon.
Using their smartphone app, these ridesharing services, the giants Uber and Lyft, provide faster and cheaper rides in every major city in the United States. It’s almost hard not to spot an Uber or Lyft when you’re driving on today’s changing roads.
And people love technology in today’s world, carpool makes it better. Almost everyone has a smartphone at all times, so requesting a ride is simple.
They also give drivers the opportunity to earn some extra money by giving them the option to drive wherever and whenever they want, all in their own vehicle.
But the rideshare industry has its problems, particularly with the two biggest services, Uber and Lyft. These problems include additional traffic and congestion in major cities, children using them, possible crime, and unhappy drivers.
To begin with, arguably the biggest rideshare problem is congestion and the call against these services by city officials and taxi companies.
Uber and Lyft are a great way to get around, they give people a cheaper and more convenient ride, and they’re available essentially everywhere. And that has become a problem. The number of drivers that Uber and Lyft currently have on the road is constantly increasing.
With new drivers signing up every day, Uber and Lyft bring unwanted congestion and traffic to these major cities, causing headaches for city officials and regular commuters using their own vehicles.
Uber and Lyft drivers are often double-parked waiting for their passengers, they also make U-turns and other illegal driving patterns as they try to rush to their next passenger and earn more money.
One solution for Uber and Lyft is to set a limit on the number of drivers they have in a reasonable number. Another solution would be for city officials to eventually tax Uber and Lyft like they do taxi companies, leveling the playing field.
Kids using Uber and Lyft are also a growing problem.
A common trend these rideshare drivers see is that teens or children use their parents’ apps to request rides. So a parent will request an Uber through their own account, but the driver will take the child instead of the adult.
As this trend has come to light, you must question whether these ridesharing services are doing enough to combat underage use.
Uber and Lyft have policies that people under the age of 18 cannot get or use their app, but some parents have found a loophole and this can be dangerous for the child.
Although some Uber or Lyft drivers know their riders are minors, they still want the money and will give them the rides. A driver of these services estimated that almost a third of their trips are given to minors and are not accompanied by an adult.
This is a dangerous situation because even as big as they have gotten and how much we rely on these rideshare services, they are still weird. Instead of parents taking their kids to the movies or even to school, they are letting Uber and Lyft do it for them. Parents should be aware of the potential risks and harmful situations that can occur when sending a minor only through these services.
Even though we trust them, ride-sharing services also carry the possibility of crime and danger along with their travels. While you can see the car model and driver, along with their rating, bad things can still happen.
In the past, people have loitered near bars or college campuses posing as rideshare drivers to try and steer the unsuspecting victim to their car. It is very important to see who your driver is and what type, why he has done it and if you feel comfortable driving with him.
Drivers are also vulnerable to being mugged, robbed, beaten, and a host of crimes befall them. Many drivers have chosen to install cameras in their vehicles, for their safety and that of their passengers.
But drivers are still unhappy with its respected services, and Uber drivers are more unhappy compared to Lyft.
Drivers have voiced their complaints about Uber running off the top of their trips, charging riders more while not paying drivers the full amount. Uber has started working more with its drivers in recent months, even allowing riders to tip their drivers now, as well as adding a 24/7 support system and other security systems.
While no one can dispute the popularity of these ridesharing services, the growth is not so favorable in the eyes of many. Uber and Lyft must do a better job of monitoring the number of drivers they have, as well as the behavior of their drivers and passengers during their trips.
But at the same time, ride-sharing services do a lot of good. They help people get home after a night of drinking, help carry the elderly, disabled and even those who cannot make it to their medical appointments.
Uber and Lyft have opened the door for almost everyone to get around.
The major ridesharing services are not going anywhere anytime soon, but they should hope that city officials will step up efforts to level the playing field and try to fix the congestion they cause in major cities.
More cars on the road means more accidents and angry drivers, which means driving is harder for everyone. Ridesharing services must also do a better job of combating the use of minors and keeping their drivers and passengers safe and happy.
While they are struggling, the ridesharing industry is still expanding and holding strong across the United States and hopes to continue to do so.