I’ve always had mixed feelings about Uber. Safety concerns made me a late adopter, but pricing and convenience won me over. There are still situations when I take a taxi, but I was frustrated when a recent mid-day taxi ride cost twice as much as the return trip via Uber. When we were in Denver for the Colfax Half Marathon we relied on Uber to get around, and while most of our experiences were positive, I had quite the race day Uber adventure.
I still haven’t rated this trip … find out why and tell me what you would do.
Race Day Uber Adventure
As I noted in my race recap, the Denver Colfax Half Marathon started at 6:45 in City Park, which was about 3 miles from my hotel. I headed out around 5:45, and saw another Half Marathon runner in the lobby. I asked if she wanted to share an Uber, and she told me she already ordered a Lyft. I asked if she wanted to share that, but since I didn’t have a Lyft account (or cash) she wasn’t eager to share a ride when I wouldn’t be able to split the (<$10) cost with her. ~OK~
The Uber app said I’d get to City Park at 6:10 if I ordered an Uber right away, so I decided to wait a few more minutes until Starbucks opened, and then head to the race. Coffee in hand, I went back to the hotel to order my Uber where I could wait inside– it was in the low 40s and slightly drizzly.
The woman was still there waiting for her Lyft, which was stuck on the other side of the marathon road closures. It looked like my Uber driver was having the same problem, so I called him and he agreed I should cancel. I ordered another Uber and called that driver right away to make sure he was on this side of the road closures. He was, and pulled up to my hotel almost immediately. I looked back at the other woman and thought about asking if she wanted to join me, but she was on the phone with her Lyft driver. Did her Lyft ever come? I really do hope so.
I hopped into my Uber, and instead of returning my friendly greeting, the driver started in complaining about the race and the road closures. He told me I could get out if I wanted to because it might take us 45 min to get there. ^Um, no.^
I reassured him that there were no road closures between where we were and where we were going,and that it should only take about 10 minutes. He grudgingly kept driving, but then cranked up uncensored rap music with full-on “n” word and “p” word lyrics. Was he jamming out or trying to be a jerk? I couldn’t decide, so I didn’t rate/tip him.
In retrospect, maybe I’m making too much out of this race day Uber adventure, but between wanting to dump me and his questionable choice in music, tipping didn’t feel right.
I’m joining the Friday link up at Running on Happy and Fairytales and Fitness.
Have you had an ^interesting^ Uber ride?
Would you have tipped this Uber driver?
![The Ultimate Coffee Date](http://got2run4me.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ultimate-Coffee-Date.png" "The Ultimate Coffee Date")
I’m so leery of Uber and Lyft (says the woman who took a ride home from a stranger)! Why did he agree to pick you up if he didn’t want to drive you to the race? I’m sure that didn’t put you in a good frame of mind. I hope you were able to shake it off.
Wow! I am also not a super exerienced Uber/Lyft rider and still have had a few bad experiences . . like getting my ride canceled by the driver at the last minute after waiting a while and being stuck at the airport longer. And another time, a car came to get us . . . he told us he was our Uber (I was with two other women) he ushered us over to his car pretty adamantly . . . . we started to get in, but one girl who ubers all the time whispered “something doesn’t seem right” so we left ASAP — and found out he wasn’t our driver!!!
Oh, that’s scary. The Uber app gives you the license plate of your driver – you should always double check that!
I would’ve asked him to turn the music down and not tipped.
For awhile I thought the tip was already included in the price. But I guess you could always add cash to that. I never knew if they were expected a tip or not until I had someone say yea you can go back into app and add that. I had one Uber driver get pulled over while I was on my way to destination…ha.
When I travel for races, I take Uber and Lyft, and you are NOT overreacting. That was ridiculous and I would give him a one star rating. He should have been friendly and played appropriate music – that’s definitely not the right way to start off the day of a race!
I would say that 85% of my interactions with Uber/Lyft have been fine, but I do give them a lower rating if they don’t offer to help me with putting my luggage in the trunk of the car. You wouldn’t believe how many male drivers just sit there – unbelievable!
I think I would have just asked him to turn the music down. Most of the rides I’ve taken have been unmemorable and they usually do not have music on at all. I would prob just not tip them and put the music thing in comments
Wow, that is crazy! I have never used Uber before.
I’ve always found them willing to turn down radio. Not even out of offensive lyrics but more I’m tired/want some peace & quiet. Griping about road closures though is SOP.
When I did the Fort Lauderdale Half, I had to get an uber as it was 4 am. We runners caused a surge. Thought about it for Cherry Blossoms but wasn’t worth cost when I was only a mile away. I was a little leery about walk, but turned out I needn’t be-many runners headed down. (We were staying between the White House & Dupont Circle)
I’ve been lucky. I’ve only had good experiences with Uber. I just used one to get to my race in Brooklyn.
I actually am not a fan of Uber for the whole safety thing. And thankfully, I rarely need something like that. We have used it once or twice.
I’m not sure if I would have tipped or not. My guess is I wouldn’t have, but it’s hard to say when you’re not there in the moment.
I’ve done Uber with friends since they’re the ones with the app. I haven’t done it myself. After hearing on the radio this morning an Uber driver in Denver shot and killed his passenger this morning, I’m really not looking to Uber any time soon.
OMG, that’s where I was! We did have a regular taxi driver shoot a passenger here, though ….
I would be honest with your rating and why. I have used Uber with a friend before. My husband uses it about once a week because he can’t drive. I imagine it’s safer for men than women! (Like most things in life…)
I’ve done Uber with friends before and had weird experiences both times. I wouldn’t feel comfortable Ubering alone. Besides when I seen Uber on the streets they almost always seem to be bad drivers.
Interesting. I’ve had good and bad taxi drivers and Uber drivers. At least with the Uber app I know they are going the right way.
I have only done Uber with a friend or my hubby with me. I’m in a small town, so we only use it if we’re traveling (by air) someplace and don’t have our vehicle with us. I guess we’ve been lucky…no bad or uncomfortable experiences thus far.
I’ve only used Uber once and I had my husband with me. It was fine, but I’m still a little leery to take it on my own. Your experience sounds ridiculous! I don’t understand why he agreed to pick you up if he was then going to complain about the road closures. Also so inappropriate about the music. I would definitely have not tipped him and he’d have a one-star rating coming his way.
Right?! I mean how much work would he have at 6 am on a Sunday if not for the race?
Ew, that sucks. I use uber all the time when I come to DC. DC cabbies are the WORST. They sit there and run the clock at green lights!!! But every time I’m there for MCM we use Uber and it’s been great. I’m sorry you had a bad experience!
The D.C. taxi regulations do call for the meter run all the time but it is frustrating.
Like with most things in life I’ve had both good and bad Uber experiences. Definitely leave your honest feedback and hopefully future customers would have the same experience with this driver that you did.
Wow. Just wow. Why agree to be an Uber driver if it’s annoying to you? First of all, what we up with that lady not willing to spend $10? She already agreed to pay it for herself. If it had been me, I would have let you ride and appreciated your company.
As for the Uber driver, I probably still would have tipped but it would have been bare minimum. Questionable music and bad attitude aside, he still provided a service and got you there, right? I would, however, leave a review or whatever (Uber novice here) stating about the music (um, no). That’s uncool.
Wow! What a story! Thanks for sharing. I have had some pretty crazy experiences with UBER as well since I am always traveling around for races. It can definitely be hit or miss!