Tales of the Uber/Lyft Driver: One Thing You Should Never Do

I was sitting here thinking about things you should never do as a rideshare rider. I'll release that list soon, but for now, I wanted to address one thing that will get your ride canceled if you're dealing with a seasoned driver. New drivers might overlook it, but seasoned drivers will cancel your ride in a heartbeat if this circumstance arises. First, I'll lay the groundwork.

When you hail a ride using the Uber or Lyft app and a driver accepts the ride request, the driver is given 5 minutes to get underway to your pickup spot. If the driver is not underway, they will receive a nastygram telling them to get underway or cancel the ride request. Why would the driver be given 5 minutes? The main reason is that the driver might not be driving at that moment. They could be pumping gas. They could be eating a meal. They could be sitting at home watching the latest episode of their favorite show. In any case, they have 5 minutes to be in the vehicle and moving.

So what's the one thing you could do as a passenger that will get your ride canceled? Contact the driver to ask if they are on the way. Yes, I know you really want to get to where you're going, but if you call or text the driver within that 5-minute window to ask if they are on the way, a seasoned driver will most likely cancel the ride. Why? For a seasoned driver, knowing that you're already on edge about leaving for your destination means you're probably not going to tip and you're probably not going to give the driver a 5-star rating. Calling or texting to ask if they're on the way signals that you're "that passenger" they do not want to have to deal with.

What should you do? Wait the full 5 minutes after your ride request has been accepted. If the app still does not show the driver to be any closer to you, go ahead and contact the driver. You might not get a response. If we're driving, we're not supposed to talk on the phone or respond to a text. Wait a few minutes. A good driver will find a way to pull over safely to call or text you. Assume that isn't possible and keep looking at the app. If you still see no progress toward your destination, cancel the ride yourself. Yes, you will pay a cancellation fee but you will be able to hail another driver. If you do hear back from your driver, nicely explain that the app doesn't show them moving in your direction, so you just wanted to make sure they were on the way. Sometimes the app glitches and doesn't show movement. The driver should explain what's going on and how soon they will be at the pickup spot. As always, make sure you've chosen a good pickup location and that you're clearly visible when the driver arrives.