DoorDash - A simple way to bring up the income during rider slumps

Last year I signed up to drive for Sidecar. One of the services they provided was delivering meals and flowers for patrons of other on demand apps.

I noticed that people ordered meals during the times where less ride share patrons requested services for pick up. 

Sadly, Sidecar shut down operations on December 31, 2015.

I liked being able to make extra income during the rider slumps so 
I decided to drive for Doordash.

Doordash is an app that connects patrons with local restaurants and their meals can be delivered within an hour. 

Just like with Sidecar, I started Doordash to earn money during the times that Uber and Lyft requests went down. In the Long Beach area, that is between 1:30 and 5:00.

In January Uber announced a drop in rates and Doordash turned out to be a life saver. 

On a Thursday I committed myself to about 6 hours and managed to bring in a little over $80 by delivering meals.


Depending on area, Doordash pays $5 - $6 a delivery plus tips, which range between 15% to 20 % of the ticket price.

Doordash can be done with any vehicle, bike or even on foot. 

 https://www.doordash.com/dasher/apply/

Uber to pay $7m fine to continue operating in California

Source: The Guardian

The on-demand ride-hailing app will pay the fine to resolve a dispute over the amount of data it provided to regulators.

Uber, the on-demand ride-hailing app, has agreed to pay a California regulator more than $7m in order to keep operating in its home state.

The San Francisco startup said on Wednesday evening that it will pay the California Public Utilities Commission, which governs transportation companies, to resolve a dispute about the amount of data it provided to regulators.

The incident marks the latest example of fast-moving startups learning to navigate a web of statutes they may not realize govern their companies.

A state judge this summer fined Uber $7.3m for failing to provide information on its vehicles, such as accessibility and problems with drivers. Uber said it is still appealing against that decision.

But on 13 January, state lawyers recommended a ruling that gave Uber 30 days to pay the fine or else lose the ability to operate in California. The CPUC is expected to approve that recommendation on Thursday.

“In the meantime, we will pay the fine and continue to work in good faith with the commission,” an Uber spokeswoman said in a written statement.

LYFT Offers LAX Training

I received an email from LYFT last night about mandatory training in order to pick up and drop off passengers at LAX.

I learned some things that I did not know.

1 - Passenger Pick Ups should be done at the Ride Share Pick Up areas.  These area located between terminals in the DEPARTURE level of LAX.

2 - Passenger drop offs should also be done at the Ride Share Pick Up areas.

3 - Keep your App in DRIVER mode until exiting LAX area.

4 - Do not rate passenger until you leave the LAX area and are parked.

5 - If passengers are not ready to be picked up, exit the LAX area but stay in the TNC Zone and have them call you when they are outside and ready to be picked up. Waiting is not permitted.

Training for JOHN WAYNE is also available in the session.


If drivers have not gotten the email please contact your LYFT team.

Sidecar Shutting Down Ride And Delivery Service

Sidecar, the on-demand car service in competition with Lyft and Uber, has announced that it is shutting down at the end of this year.  

Last August, Sidecar announced that it was focusing on less ride share services while increasing its efforts to deliver food, flowers and goods to patrons of Eat24 and other on demand product sellers that its network of drivers can transport from store to front door. 

On December 31 at 2pm PT, Sidecar will officially stop offering rides and deliveries.

This may not be the end of Sidecar as in its email to partners the company plans to "pursue other strategic opportunities."  

Drivers interested in being contacted regarding future driving opportunities with our shipping partners, click here. 

Drivers were also provided this email address for addition questions: support@side.cr. 

LAX pick ups becomes a reality for LYFT drivers

LA Mayor Garcetti announced yesterday that LYFT ride service may begin picking up travelers at LAX as of Dec 23 at 8:00 AM

Airport pick ups may only be done in the DEPARTURES area and only 40 LYFT cars will be permitted on the grounds at any one time, according to a Dec 23, 2015 article by the LA Times.

The LA Times reported, "The biggest loser in the rise of ride-hailing could be Southern California taxi companies, which view the airport as their last remaining revenue stronghold." 

Considering there is a far greater selection of taxis permitted in the airport facility people may be more reluctant to wait for an ride-share when they can hail a cab from the curb. 

Drivers are encouraged to know the rules of the airports while conducting business there. Rule violations often result in heavy fines and impound of vehicle.

Not all rider requests may come from LAX.  Drivers may find lots of long rides hanging around the major hotels, car rentals and metro station.

Media bias: "Cab driver pounds on UberX car, dragged 20 metres in Toronto protest"

This video has gone viral on the Web and shows a protesting taxi driver slamming on a Uber driver's car. He is clearly displaying aggression towards the driver yet the media reports he is dragged 20 meters by the driver.

If the protester let go of the door handle he would not have been dragged as the driver was attempting to flee for his safety.


http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/taxi-driver-dragged-video-1.3357166

This week's board question: Should Uber pay us $15 an hour?

David in Denver posted this in a Uber drivers group on Facebook, "I think us Uber drivers should be paid $15/hr minimum."

My response to this was:
"I make over twice that driving for these TNC services. Maybe you are not driving the right areas. Concentrate on areas which will bring you longer rides like train stations, airport hotels, and cruise ship terminals."

The Uber marketing concept if TNC is short rides around the neighborhood, which sounds perfect for bar hoppers. The last thing a driver needs is an angry incoherent drunk who ends up getting pepper sprayed on YouTube because he refuses to exit the car after not cooperating with the driver.  Also, we don't take kindly to people who drink like pigs and puke in our nice cars.

A driver can make 4 or 5 runs an hour doing short runs about $2.50 each or find a place where longer runs are requested for a much better pay off.

The solution to this is to find a high traffic area with a higher caliber of clients. Los Angeles and Orange Counties are full of these areas.

Union station is good, so are areas near greyhounds terminals and metro stations. For the most part you are going to pick up passengers who are commuting to and from work.  Los Angeles has a cruise ship terminal in San Pedro. When I sit at the Carnival Cruise terminal in Long Beach I am often pinged from across the harbor because there are no drivers there.

These cruise ships often are fully booked and let out the 2000 passengers, one third at a time, for US Customs. So you can expect about 3 hours of service at the Princess Cruise terminal. Many want to go to LAX or Glendale.

Check the San Pedro Cruise ship info site for arrivals:
http://www.sanpedro.com/spcom/cruiscal.htm

Places to avoid, Frat houses, college campuses after 6PM,

Another tip is know the addresses of the good quality hotels where you drive. Park in an area somewhere between 2 or 3 of these and that could earn you a long trip across town.

OC areas to avoid, are CSU Fullerton after 6PM. In my experience CSU Fullerton students are the rudest and worst behaved children you could have in your car.

Places to watch out for:
Inglewood Forum has a UBER/LYFT pick up and drop off area. If you stop anywhere else in the lot you could find a ticket in your mail box.

John Wayne airport has cops that are very eager to fine TNC drivers. Know the rules and make sure you do not pick anyone up in the departures area. Do not park inside the airport but there area lots across MacArthur where you can wait for your pings