All posts in: Uber

Culture
26 Feb 2020

Blog Roundup

  • Why We Love John Ambrose Over Peter K. [Buzzfeed]
  • Bodies in Seats [The Verge] – content warning
  • Garbage Language – Why Do Corporations Speak the Way They Do? [Vulture]
  • Susan Fowler on the Aftermath of Speaking Out Against Uber [TIME]
  • How Washington’s Non-Compete Law Impacts Musicians, Festivals, and Venues [KEXP]
  • One Restaurant You Should Try in Every State [Chicago Tribune]
  • Supreme Oreos Are Now Selling For Over $91,000 on eBay [Forbes]
  • Don’t Get Your Tax Refund On An Amazon Gift Card [Life Hacker]
  • Every State’s Favorite State and Least Favorite State [Digg]
  • The Rise of the Instagram Curator [GQ]
  • Bumbershoot Could Be Smaller, Cheaper, and More Local in 2020 [Crosscut]
  • Lana Condor and Ali Wong Will Not Be Taking Questions At This Time [Interview Magazine]
  • The Wing’s Audrey Gelman confronts the realities of rapid growth [Fast Company]
  • The Nice Guy Trope, Explained
Culture
01 Jun 2019

Uber Will Deactivate Riders With Low Ratings

For years, we’ve known that drivers could be penalized for their poor ratings, but why shouldn’t riders be held to the same standard? In an announcement from the company, Uber is sharing that riders that have consistently low ratings can now be booted from the app if they fall below their city’s average. Many of my friends have some of the highest ratings I’ve ever seen which makes me think it’s hard to get a low score, but it does happen. As a rider, you just have to make sure you’re not puking, being loud, or being rude. Sounds simple enough right? Also, maybe don’t bring your pet into an Uber or eat in it.

If this post gives you a little bit of anxiety, you don’t have to worry yet. If you’re on the cusp of getting kicked off, Uber will start sending you ways to improve your score so that that doesn’t happen. I assume they are reminders to be friendlier and more polite.

Readers, what are your Uber rider ratings and do you feel like it is deserved?

[Source]

Life
02 Feb 2019

Uber’s “Unhappy Hour”

With all of the hype surrounding the Super Bowl this Sunday, Uber is stepping in for a fun little promo. Customers of the losing city (Boston or Los Angeles) will be able to redeem free rides on Sunday up to 60 minutes after the game ends. The possibilities are endless! You can take yourself to the next bar for a round of sad drinks or just take yourself home to wallow. Your free ride is good for up to $50 on UberX, UberPOOL, UberXL, Express Pool and WAV trips.

[Source]

Design
26 Jul 2013

Arriving to the Capitol Hill Block Party

photo cred | Fiat of Kirkland

Traffic is about to be a hot mess tonight – and the parking? Even worse, I’m sure. To  avoid any incidents involving drinking and driving or the stress of finding parking on the hill tonight for the music festival, Uber is teaming up with Fiat of Kirkland to provide free rides to AND from the Block Party. Have we ever heard of such a thing? The only concern would be how many people will be using the service all weekend, but if you’re lucky to be selecting a ride at the right time, then why wouldn’t you take it?

To read up on the full details of how you can snag a free right all weekend long, click here.

Culture
15 Jul 2013

Blog Roundup

photo cred | Cake Spy

– Top 10 restaurants and cafes in Seattle. [Source]

– 14 friends everyone has on Facebook. You know who you are. [Source]

– I haven’t posted anything about the Trayvon Martin case, but I will post this piece from The Frisky that I can stand behind. [Source]

– Mayer Hawthorne’s performance of “Her Favorite Song” on The Today Show. [Source]

– Uber now lets you split the fare with a friend. [Source]

– Are your favorite retailers tracking you? [Source]

– A new facial that let’s slugs slime their way all over your face. Are you brave enough to try it? [Source]

– 9 Ways to work out in San Francisco without stepping foot into a gym. Sounds like my kind of workout! [Source]

Design
06 Jul 2013

My First Lyft Experience

photo cred | Geek Wire

Last weekend after a birthday party downtown, Kevin put me in my first “Lyft.” Several months ago, he was trying to convince me to get into Uber. Sidecar kind of got lost somewhere in the middle there, but out of the three ride sharing services, Lyft has – by far – received the most buzz. With a tagline like “Your friend with a car,” nothing could be more true. I know this because the guy that gave me a lift back to the Eastside chatted with me as if he were my friend. I asked him one question, “So how does Lyft work” and believe it or not that answer spanned from the time we left to my destination.

Mom and Dad – I know what you’re gonna say. Don’t worry! Every Lyft driver goes through a background check process! Now the cab companies can run online police check qld or for other locations before hiring drivers to ensure their customers stay safe. Before I had my first ride, I had learned that one of my close friends had also picked up a gig as a Lyft driver herself and was absolutely thrilled when she had the opportunity to throw that pink mustache onto her car.

For those of you who don’t know how Lyft works, let me break it down for you as best as I can. First, download the app. Put in a request to go somewhere. A Lyft driver currently working can decide whether or not they want to be your driver and as soon as they say “yes!” you can instantly see where they are on the map and track how far away they are or how close they are getting to you. Driver picks you up – takes you to destination and everything is based off of a suggested donation. I would advise paying that suggested price and it’s done completely through the app. No cash involved! I’d like to say that it’s always as smooth as that but sometimes things go wrong and Lyft’s are involved in accidents, in which case you may want to consider reaching out to someone like a Los Angeles lyft accident lawyer.

Did I miss anything? Lyft is a startup (of course!) that originated from San Francisco and when I got there, those pink mustaches were EVERYWHERE. Also something to note, the taxi drivers all told me that they kind of hate Lyft drivers. Understandable of course, they’re eating up all their business, but what can you do? When you’ve got a great idea that is safe and convenient, go for it. Thanks Tim for such a wonderful first Lyft experience and schooling me on everything having to do with the ride-sharing business.

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12 Oct 2011

In Seattle News…

There was so much Seattle news swirling around yesterday that I decided to just make a separate post for it away from the rest of the pop culture news going on in the world.

– During Bumbershoot weekend, Kevin informed me of a new car service named Uber that had just been brought to Seattle that I could use in place of taking a taxi or the bus. So how does it work exactly? Uber is an on-demand car service that will pick you up from wherever you are and take you anywhere you need to go in a sleek black car. Known as “everyone’s private driver,” Uber is a service that is all about convenience and style. If you’re a member of the service, then your payment is just charged to your credit card so no more fumbling at your dolla dolla bills! This service is great for a night out, but is also the safer bet in place of a taxi or bus – – as suggested by Kevin.

“In Seattle, pricing currently starts with a $7 base, plus $3.75/mile distance and $0.75/mile time fees with a $12 minimum and $50 set rate for Sea-Tac.”

To learn more about the service, click here to visit their website.

[Source]

– PBS is making a documentary that will highlight Seattle’s thriving music scene. The program titled “Seattle Music…something in the water” isn’t all that clever, but will feature some of your favorite local bands including The Head & the Heart, Shabazz Palaces, Pickwick, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and a few others. The show will air on October 21st.  [Source]

– Storefront installations will be returning to Broadway this fall/winter! The last time this happened was back when I was a freshman and back then I don’t think I was able to fully appreciate it. Storefronts Seattle will take over vacant store fronts on Capitol Hill stretching from Pine Street to Roy and will be decorating them with creative and visually pleasing installations. [Source]

– Food trucks are rolling up with a sweet surprise! Street Wheels, a new hot pink truck parked on 2nd and Pine, will be dishing out their treats every day from noon-6. Their menu features a number of ice cream sandwiches, chocolate dipped ice cream bars, and a handful of your favorite classic desserts. [Source]

– Molly Moon’s has been named the King County Executive Small Business of the Year! [Source]

– After one man stiffed a bartender last week at one of my favorite bars in Capitol Hill and then criticized her weight on the receipt, the locals went nuts. Something you should learn of the day: If you’re  going to stiff a bartender, don’t pay with a credit card. Capitol Hill locals harassed the guy via his Facebook to let him know that he is just not welcome back to our neighborhood ever again. This story got around so quick, I even found out on The Frisky shortly after the incident. Read more about what happened here and here.