# How reliable is Uber? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 16, 2022, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-reliable-is-uber/971681 "2022-09-16T16:04:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2022, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-reliable-is-uber/971681/21 "2022-09-16T21:53:17Z")
I know someone who wanted to drive for Lyft. He applied and was denied. He applied to Uber and was immediately accepted. Since I learned this I’ve used only Lyft. Your mileage (ha) may vary. mmm ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2022, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-reliable-is-uber/971681/22 "2022-09-16T21:56:35Z")
Was there something in his background that should legitimately have been disturbing to Lyft, or do they simply have an unreliable process that declines some percentage of applicants for random or sloppy reasons? Like not being able to tell that Joe Smith the convicted axe murderer still imprisoned in CA is not the same Joe Smith as the one that applied for a Lyft driver job in Boston a week ago? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2022, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-reliable-is-uber/971681/23 "2022-09-16T22:12:55Z")
They’ve moved Uber pickup and drop off locations at Logan. Depending on the time of day, you may drop off in Central parking and have to hoof it to your terminal. Pickup is all in Central Parking, so after you get your luggage you need to head there. Taxis pick up and drop off at the terminal. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2022, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-reliable-is-uber/971681/24 "2022-09-16T22:33:37Z")
Maybe his car didn’t pass the Uber inspection or he didnt have the approved insurance. There are some policy differences between them. ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2022, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-reliable-is-uber/971681/25 "2022-09-17T00:20:14Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > They’ve moved Uber pickup and drop off locations at Logan. Depending on the time of day, you may drop off in Central parking and have to hoof it to your terminal. Pickup is all in Central Parking, so after you get your luggage you need to head there. Taxis pick up and drop off at the terminal. Good to know, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2022, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-reliable-is-uber/971681/26 "2022-09-17T00:21:32Z")
There isn’t a factual answer. Everyone’s experience will vary. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2022, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-reliable-is-uber/971681/27 "2022-09-17T01:25:50Z")
To be fair, I fly Logan 3-5 times a month, and the walk is less than 5 minutes between the dropoff and the terminal. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2022, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-reliable-is-uber/971681/28 "2022-09-17T01:27:41Z")
I travel a lot for work. Logan is my home airport. I use Uber exclusively and have no trouble getting a ride any time of the day or night. I am, admittedly, only about 5 miles from the airport. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2022, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-reliable-is-uber/971681/29 "2022-09-17T13:13:43Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > There isn’t a factual answer. Everyone’s experience will vary. The fact that everyone’s experiences will vary is why the OP asked for a factual answer, not for everyone’s experiences. Statistics on reliability surely exist. That said, until anyone shows up with said statistics, folks will surely chime in with their experiences. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2022, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-reliable-is-uber/971681/30 "2022-09-18T11:23:48Z")
'Zactly. I am not involved with Boston or Logan, but I do occasionally need an Uber / Lyft for a 45-minute ride to an airport here in greater Miami at o-stupid-thirty in the morning. And they’ve always come through, whether I reserve the ride ahead or just fire up the app 10-15 minutes before I want to leave. My home / pick-up location is solidly suburban though. If the OP is more rural I strongly recommend testing the local waters on several days at the appropriate time of day to see how many drivers are available where you need them. I’d also suggest the OP obtain both the Uber & Lyft app. Yes, many drivers do both simultaneously. But … As a frequent user in many, many different US cities my experience is that often one outfit or the other pays materially better or has a materially better clientele, which leads to better tips. So drivers prefer the one app over the other. Why the local variations? Who knows, but the effect is real. There are some cities where Uber is all but useless because everyone is driving only for Lyft. And vice versa. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2022, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-reliable-is-uber/971681/31 "2022-09-18T12:26:29Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Why the local variations? Who knows I know at least one reason. The two services will run bonus activities to give drivers an incentive to drive for them for a set period. Say offer a $20 bonus if you give 3 rides with them over the next two hours. They will then turn off the other app. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2022, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-reliable-is-uber/971681/32 "2022-09-18T12:35:18Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Statistics on reliability surely exist. Surely, such statistics would’ve been presented by now, and in absence - this surely belongs in IMHO, no? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2022, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-reliable-is-uber/971681/33 "2022-09-18T13:16:34Z")
Uber / Lyft themselves doubtless have all sorts of statistics. Which I would imagine are closely guarded trade secrets. Meaningful statistics will not be forthcoming here. Whether that _demands_ a forum move is a different question I’m not prepared to address. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2022, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-reliable-is-uber/971681/34 "2022-09-18T16:07:03Z")
The only bad experience we had with Uber/Lyft was someone showing up at our door and saying they didn’t want to go to the airport, and asked if could we cancel the ride. That’s a bit of a scam, since if we cancel it doesn’t hurt the driver’s reputation. We said no, called another ride (on my wife’s phone) and made the driver cancel. He was an asshole. Where we live that was a 3 minute delay, but in some locations it could be a much longer delay between available rides. To be fair, we’ve had scheduled cabs not show up either, and had to scramble for a ride to the airport as well. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-reliable-is-uber/971681/35 "2022-09-19T01:33:44Z")
Interesting… I have had recent experiences of Uber/Lyft cancelling on me over and over and over again. Literally booked a ride, a driver was assigned and will be there in seven minutes…three minutes later cancelled…new driver…five minutes…two minutes later cancelled…and it happened again…ten minutes and cancelled three minutes later. I did nothing. Didn’t change anything. Just rider after rider would accept and then cancel. FTR I have a good rating with both (last I asked) and was in downtown Chicago and booked a four mile ride, also in downtown Chicago (so, not in a remote place and not going to a remote place). It was maddening. I have shared that story with others and most I tell it to nod and said they have experienced something similar. But if I cancel I get charged for doing so. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2022, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-reliable-is-uber/971681/36 "2022-09-21T17:16:40Z")
Just speculating - Your ride sounds like it was relatively short, therefore less desirable for drivers. If they drive for both Uber & Lyft, the can take accept your ride but keep the other app open in case something better comes along. I’m guessing that is what happened? ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2022, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-reliable-is-uber/971681/37 "2022-09-21T19:10:44Z")
There is no telling (from my end) why they would cancel. I presume it is because a more lucrative ride appeared that they would rather take. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2022, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-reliable-is-uber/971681/38 "2022-09-21T19:13:02Z")
The driver really cannot tell if a ride is lucrative or not until the passenger is in his car. They are not given the designation until then. That is done to avoid them cancelling short rides. There are some pickups I would avoid, like bar pickups (obviusly). The dialysis pickups were bad to because the company would schedule the ride early but then not release the patient due to various reasons, so you would sit there and wait and lose money. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2022, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-reliable-is-uber/971681/39 "2022-09-21T19:21:30Z")
It seems they have changed this: > **[Uber unveils new features, including one that lets drivers choose the trips...](https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/29/uber-will-let-drivers-choose-the-trips-they-want-to-take.html)** > > Uber announced a series of new features Friday aimed at enhancing drivers' experiences on the ridesharing app. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2022, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-reliable-is-uber/971681/40 "2022-09-22T11:03:13Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > so you would sit there and wait and lose money. I’d assume if you arrived at the pickup point and the person wasn’t there you would just leave. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-reliable-is-uber/971681.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-reliable-is-uber/971681.md?page=3)