# In case you were wondering, Lyft sucks **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 27, 2015, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-case-you-were-wondering-lyft-sucks/713802 "2015-02-27T21:46:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2018, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-case-you-were-wondering-lyft-sucks/713802/142 "2018-04-23T20:20:43Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Interestingly enough, the local taxi company is now advertising an app. I’ve since gotten over my distaste of Lyft’s old symbolism, and Uber has since done sketchy things, but I’d rather use either than a taxi company. Although the local one is better than most. > > I don’t think he lives anywhere with much Uber/Lyft saturation, nor taxis. I’ve probably drank at some of those bars, too. Even small cities have these services now, but it’s easy to take it for granted even though lots of places don’t have them. Yeah, but he can’t even imagine a scenario where he wouldn’t want to drive? ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2018, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-case-you-were-wondering-lyft-sucks/713802/143 "2018-04-23T20:26:39Z")
I used both Uber and Lyft for the first time last week. First time simply because there was never a need or opportunity to do so in the past, not because I’m a tech hating Luddite or a tobacco chewing pickup driving country boy. All 3 rides were easy & pleasant. Though watching one guy apparently get lost on the way to a very obvious pickup point was pretty funny. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2018, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-case-you-were-wondering-lyft-sucks/713802/144 "2018-04-23T21:18:45Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > For a ride, if the thumb or foot is not a option and mass transit doesn’t work then Lyft first, Uber second cab 3rd. Lyft first in this as I don’t like Ubers business practices and I like the ability to tip the driver on app, but will quickly switch to Uber if Lyft doesn’t have the ride I need in the time I want. Taxi’s are a fall back. You can now tip in-app using Uber. This was changed sometime in the past 6 months, year. I also suggest that anyone with the the two services available should install both apps and do a price check on both for every trip you make - the difference can be substantial: I’ve seen $20 price variations, same trip. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2018, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-case-you-were-wondering-lyft-sucks/713802/145 "2018-04-23T23:50:48Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > I don’t think he lives anywhere with much Uber/Lyft saturation, nor taxis. I’ve probably drank at some of those bars, too. Even small cities have these services now, but it’s easy to take it for granted **even though lots of places don’t have them**. Uber is on my “bite me” list. They had me go through the whole download and registration process only to tell me they aren’t available here. This is a really easy thing to check up front and save me the hassle - ask the zip code. If I ever decide to give the random stranger thing a try again, it will be Lyft. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2018, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-case-you-were-wondering-lyft-sucks/713802/146 "2018-04-24T03:57:33Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Yeah, but he can’t even imagine a scenario where he wouldn’t want to drive? The point is moot. I don’t have a “Smart Phone”, and couldn’t conjure one even if I wanted to. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2018, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-case-you-were-wondering-lyft-sucks/713802/147 "2018-04-24T04:20:11Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > The point is moot. I don’t have a “Smart Phone”, and couldn’t conjure one even if I wanted to. You mean some of you guys post here while **not** pooping? I… I think I need to lie down. Image shattered. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2018, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-case-you-were-wondering-lyft-sucks/713802/148 "2018-04-24T04:29:41Z")
Oh, I shit my pants! Make no mistake about that! I used to have a lawn, but no-one ever came on it for me to admonish them to retreat from it. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Claude\_Remains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@Claude\_Remains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claude_Remains)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2018, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-case-you-were-wondering-lyft-sucks/713802/149 "2018-04-24T05:09:34Z")
Silly millennials. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2018, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-case-you-were-wondering-lyft-sucks/713802/150 "2018-04-24T05:36:06Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Yes, you’re lucky. Taxis in NYC, Seattle, Vegas, and D.C. (my most recent cab experiences) have been uniformly terrible. Driver on the phone the whole time, driving terribly, smelly cars, etc. Every Uber ride I’ve taken has been like a limo by comparison (but not actually a limo–although I usually opt for Uber Black Car). I also like the 'flat fee" instead of a meter, so I don’t have to worry about being taken for a ride. We’ve taken taxis in NYC and DC, and they’ve all been decent. I remember one cab driver who was trying to impress us out-of-towners with how big NYC was, but we were visiting from the much larger Bangkok and kept telling him yeah, we’re not used to such a small town. He was flummoxed. Hilarious. Another cab driver took us from Penn Station all the way out to Queens, this really old guy, and he was a true prince. We had trouble locating the hotel, so he just turned off the meter so as not to keep running it up. I gave him a really good tip. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2018, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-case-you-were-wondering-lyft-sucks/713802/151 "2018-04-24T06:13:13Z")
? NYC has 400,000 more people than Bangkok. If you use the MSA instead of the official city boundaries, NYC is 6 million plus larger. Point still stands though, there are bigger cities than NYC, but don’t tell that to New Yorkers. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2018, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-case-you-were-wondering-lyft-sucks/713802/152 "2018-04-24T11:52:40Z")
Bangkok is the much larger city by square mileage, which is probably the more relevant measurement in terms of taking a taxi. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2018, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-case-you-were-wondering-lyft-sucks/713802/153 "2018-04-24T12:39:21Z")
I’ve noticed over the past year or so that DC cabs have gotten better. Now it’s more likely that they will accept credit cards and actually come to your house when you call one. I think it’s because of the competition from ride hailing apps. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2018, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-case-you-were-wondering-lyft-sucks/713802/154 "2018-04-24T14:42:47Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > For a ride, if the thumb or foot is not a option and mass transit doesn’t work then Lyft first, Uber second cab 3rd. Lyft first in this as I don’t like Ubers business practices and I like the ability to tip the driver on app, but will quickly switch to Uber if Lyft doesn’t have the ride I need in the time I want. Taxi’s are a fall back. Uber has the ability to tip within the app. It comes up when you rate the ride. Although I must admit, I love it when I get cash tips. Makes it easier to buy lunch. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2018, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-case-you-were-wondering-lyft-sucks/713802/155 "2018-04-24T15:02:49Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > I’ve noticed over the past year or so that DC cabs have gotten better. Now it’s more likely that they will accept credit cards and actually come to your house when you call one. I think it’s because of the competition from ride hailing apps. When I moved here a colleague told me not to bother with DC cabs if I could avoid them. After a few misadventures, Red Top (based in Arlington).ended up getting all my pick-up requests when traveling to the airport. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2018, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-case-you-were-wondering-lyft-sucks/713802/156 "2018-04-24T15:21:55Z")
> [@Ruken](#): > > When I moved here a colleague told me not to bother with DC cabs if I could avoid them. After a few misadventures, Red Top (based in Arlington).ended up getting all my pick-up requests when traveling to the airport. Yeah, DC cabs have always sucked. They would just straight up refuse to take you to your location and it used to be they never showed up in Petworth when you called one. Now, it wouldn’t occur to me to take a ca unless there is one right in front of me when I come outside. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2018, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-case-you-were-wondering-lyft-sucks/713802/157 "2018-04-27T04:57:11Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > ? > > NYC has 400,000 more people than Bangkok. If you use the MSA instead of the official city boundaries, NYC is 6 million plus larger. Point still stands though, there are bigger cities than NYC, but don’t tell that to New Yorkers. > [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > Bangkok is the much larger city by square mileage, which is probably the more relevant measurement in terms of taking a taxi. The real population of Bangkok is about 12-13 million, but they’ve been saying 6-8 million ever since I first arrived there in 1988. The thing is you are counted in censuses as forever living in the place you’re from, and the city’s numbers are swelled with migrants from upcountry looking for work. No one there, and I mean no one, believes the official population figures. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2018, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-case-you-were-wondering-lyft-sucks/713802/158 "2018-05-02T03:38:19Z")
DC suburbs here, and I’ve been using Lyft rather a lot lately (due to various surgeries in the house, I can’t drive). I’ve almost never had to wait more than 5 minutes for my ride. The cars have, by and large, been fairly nice. The drivers have all been courteous. I did downrate one (from 5 to 4) because he didn’t seem to know left from right - nearly went the wrong way several times. There’s a tendency to be heavily perfumed (the cars, that is; I assume it’s not the drivers) - air freshener, I guess. Bleh. I’m off Uber because of the discrimination culture (though I suppose that’s improved somewhat?). I used it twice a few weeks back, when accompanying a friend to the hospital for surgery; as I couldn’t drive, she called Uber each way. The ride there, the rubber gasket surrounding the door was taped on. The ride back, we were told to expect a white Civic, and we were waiting outside the hospital. We thought we saw it go by, so my friend called the driver - only tp hear her voice coming from a blue car 8 feet away. They had the wrong car info (the driver said he used two different cars). So, mildly negative experience, though not enough to keep me from using Uber; I’m just prejudiced toward Lyft because of our good experiences and the corporate culture at Uber. On a recent weekend trip to NYC, where I was meeting up with friends from all over, on several occasions we were going somewhere and they said “Oh, we can just call an Uber / Lyft”. I pointed out that there were perfectly good taxis a few steps away from our hotel, no need to wait, just hail one. In the outer boroughs, sure, call a service. In Manhattan, look for the yellow cars with the lights on top. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2018, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-case-you-were-wondering-lyft-sucks/713802/159 "2018-05-02T03:44:57Z")
Missed edit window: Taxi service in the suburbs can be more hit or miss. I’m sure things have improved a lot with apps etc but it could be tough to phone one to pick you up. They have designated areas at the Metro stations and if there’s no cab there, the services wont’t dispatch one; you have to wait for one to show up. We tried to have a cab meet us at a commuter rail station late one Sunday night about 5 years ag0 (we were on a bus coming south from NYC) and several refused. One said “There’'s a taxi stand there!”. We said “On a Sunday night, when the train isn’t running, there will be no taxis”. Finally got one that said we could call them for pickup when we’d arrived. Dunno if they woiuld have shown up - we wound up spotting a late county bus that took us to the Metro, where there were taxis. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2018, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-case-you-were-wondering-lyft-sucks/713802/160 "2018-05-02T05:38:05Z")
It was on the news tonight that a Lyft or Uber (forget which one) cut in front of a taxi here in Waikiki this week and waved a bow knife out the window at the taxi driver when he honked his horn. The police are looking for the driver. They know it was Lyft or Uber thanks to the sticker on the window, plus the driver got the license-plate number. I’m sticking with regular taxis until I have a good reason to switch. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-case-you-were-wondering-lyft-sucks/713802.md?page=7)