# Uber = Paying Hitchhiking, Right? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 31, 2015, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-paying-hitchhiking-right/726639 "2015-07-31T11:02:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-paying-hitchhiking-right/726639/21 "2015-07-31T20:53:45Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Uber drivers don’t get paid in cash by riders, do they? I’m not sure what the incentive to rob them is. There are other safety concerns for sure, but the lack of cash probably reduces the risk considerably. Well, there’s the car, but armed carjacking is a problem which already exists so I don’t think Uber has an affect on that one way or the other. In plain fact, I can’t think of any risk factors distinctive to Uber/Lyft/et al. You get into a stranger’s car/allow a stranger into your\* car in all of the similar scenarios. \*For a traditional taxi, the driver may not own the car, but that’s not a huge factor in whether a carjacking can occur, only who suffers the property loss. The personal risks are all similar, except perhaps for the lack of a cash transaction in the Uber case. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-paying-hitchhiking-right/726639/22 "2015-07-31T21:59:50Z")
This is just screaming out for a Lifetime movie. Uber Stank: The Jenny Ann Tomlinson Story I Met My Creep Through Uber The Hand The Drives the Uber ---
**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:** [July 31, 2015, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-paying-hitchhiking-right/726639/23 "2015-07-31T22:13:51Z")
So, no cash payments. Do Uber drivers get tips? ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-paying-hitchhiking-right/726639/24 "2015-07-31T22:58:26Z")
> [@Sam\_Lowry](#): > > Uber has all your info, because that’s how you are charged for your ride. It’s explained on [their website](https://www.uber.com/).And you can’t just sign up with any name and credit card; if I’m remembering correctly, you have to link it to at least one or two social media accounts, or something like that to prove your identity. Obviously that’s still not fool-proof, but it does help. I have an Uber account, but don’t have Facebook. I guess I technically have Google+ but I’ve never used it. I’ve not yet used Uber so maybe it will refuse to pick me up until I link something, but nothing in my profile says I need to do anything else. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2015, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-paying-hitchhiking-right/726639/25 "2015-07-31T23:19:14Z")
There is no requirement to link a social account to use Uber. It’s just one of the authentication mechanisms they offer. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-paying-hitchhiking-right/726639/26 "2015-08-01T00:19:52Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > that’s what they try to _say_ they are, “ride sharing.” If even a slim fraction of their actual fares are “ride shares” I’ll eat my hat. Cite? I’ve seen this assertion made in a number of threads, but I’ve never seen anyone from Uber describe their business as a “ride share”. Everything I see from them basically describes them as an on-demand hired car company. Maybe they used to, but don’t any more? Can you find a statement from Uber in which they refer to themselves as a “ride-sharing” service or company? I can find a lot of third parties describing them that way, but the only thing I can find on their website that mentions “sharing” is an announcement of UberPool, which is where it will match up several riders with similar routes with a single hired car. So, the riders are sharing, but with each other, not with the driver. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-paying-hitchhiking-right/726639/27 "2015-08-01T00:43:04Z")
The website also says, "Split your fare. Simplify your life and your fractions. Invite your friends to split the fare. If your friends opt in, each person’s credit card will be charged equally. No more pay-me-backs or IOUs. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-paying-hitchhiking-right/726639/28 "2015-08-01T01:40:05Z")
> [@Jinx](#): > > Please explain how Uber is a good deal for the driver. Are we just waiting to see the first homicides via Uber? Are you familiar with the concept of a taxi cab or livery car service? Same thing. The driver makes money for driving people around. Unlike a taxi cab, however, there is a digital record of who the driver is and who the passenger is. So in spite of all the hoopla about “safety”, it’s actually safer than getting into some random cab IMHO. Look, no one holds a gun to anyone’s head any makes them become an Uber driver. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-paying-hitchhiking-right/726639/29 "2015-08-01T01:41:53Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > I guess I technically have Google+ but I’ve never used it. Yeah, you and every other Google+ user on the planet!😃 ---
**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:** [August 1, 2015, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-paying-hitchhiking-right/726639/30 "2015-08-01T09:34:18Z")
Putting aside whether Uber is a good financial deal for the driver, it clearly is safer than driving a taxi around the city. An Uber driver is never picking up an anonymous person on the street, he is always picking up someone who has left an electronic trail to his identity. There is also no cash involved, so the Uber driver isn’t driving around with lots of cash. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-paying-hitchhiking-right/726639/31 "2015-08-01T14:33:49Z")
> [@Jinx](#): > > Please explain Uber, especially if you’ve “contracted” with them. (I am sure you are NOT an employee.) California would like a word with you. > [@](#): > > A driver for Uber is an employee, not a contractor, according to a California ruling [http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/06/18/us-uber-california-idUSKBN0OX1TE20150618](http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/06/18/us-uber-california-idUSKBN0OX1TE20150618) ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-paying-hitchhiking-right/726639/32 "2015-08-01T15:05:29Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally Posted by\*\* Sam Lowry \*\* > Uber has all your info, because that’s how you are charged for your ride. It’s explained on their website.And you can’t just sign up with any name and credit card; if I’m remembering correctly, you have to link it to at least one or two social media accounts, or something like that to prove your identity. Obviously that’s still not fool-proof, but it does help. I guarantee you can sign up with name and credit card only (and email I suppose). I’ve been using Uber for at least two years and don’t have any social media accounts. ---
**Author:** ![FuriousGeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecae2f/32.png) [@FuriousGeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FuriousGeorge)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-paying-hitchhiking-right/726639/33 "2015-08-01T15:24:28Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > So, no cash payments. Do Uber drivers get tips? I have tried to tip my Uber driver every time… almost every time they tried to refused it the first time it was offered. About half said no with resolve, as it were. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-paying-hitchhiking-right/726639/34 "2015-08-01T16:10:39Z")
My sister found an Uber driver who she really liked, and they’ve now got an arrangement - she’ll call him directly and pay him in cash. I expect Uber wouldn’t be too happy about not getting their cut, but I’m also guessing she’s not the only one who does this. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-paying-hitchhiking-right/726639/35 "2015-08-01T16:18:59Z")
> [@FuriousGeorge](#): > > I have tried to tip my Uber driver every time… almost every time they tried to refused it the first time it was offered. About half said no with resolve, as it were. I usually tip. They always accept, and appear quite grateful. I don’t think it’s forbidden, but I seems clear to me that they don’t expect routine tipping. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-paying-hitchhiking-right/726639/36 "2015-08-01T18:08:24Z")
The Lyft app my friend and I used had an option to add a driver tip on to the credit card charge. He was paying and had just enough to drink to decide to add an $8 tip on a $12 ride. ---
**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:** [August 2, 2015, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-paying-hitchhiking-right/726639/37 "2015-08-02T16:50:26Z")
Thanks! Okay, next question: Are Uber drivers circumcised? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ObligatoryCatTax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e495f1/32.png) [@ObligatoryCatTax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ObligatoryCatTax)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2015, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-paying-hitchhiking-right/726639/38 "2015-08-02T21:25:19Z")
> [@Jinx](#): > > Please explain Uber, especially if you’ve “contracted” with them. (I am sure you are NOT an employee.) I can’t find the full story on the web. And, Uber’s radio ads making things sound too good. So, basically, YOU sign up to get paid when YOU drive people around in YOUR car? Is that it, in a nutshell? > > Yet, on the flip side, ask yourself: would you really stop for a hitchhiker? Now, suddenly, picking up paying hitchhikers is safe (because you’d do anything for a buck)? > Please explain how Uber is a good deal for the driver. Are we just waiting to see the first homicides via Uber? It isn’t safe for the driver. Had a driver tell me her worries herself. The rider gets to see a verified profile of the driver. The person who pays for the Uber isn’t necessarily the rider. The driver gets pretty much nothing as far as who will be getting in their car. In a nutshell, yes. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2015, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-paying-hitchhiking-right/726639/39 "2015-08-03T15:16:33Z")
> [@ObligatoryCatTax](#): > > It isn’t safe for the driver. Had a driver tell me her worries herself. The rider gets to see a verified profile of the driver. The person who pays for the Uber isn’t necessarily the rider. The driver gets pretty much nothing as far as who will be getting in their car. > > In a nutshell, yes. It’s at least as safe as a regular yellow cab picking up fares on the street. The driver does confirm that you are either the person in the profile or are there on their behalf. If something happens, there is a record that you order the Uber. Do you have a lot of friends you would cover for if they pulled some shit after you fetched them an Uber ride? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2015, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-paying-hitchhiking-right/726639/40 "2015-08-03T19:45:38Z")
> [@ObligatoryCatTax](#): > > It isn’t safe for the driver. Had a driver tell me her worries herself. The rider gets to see a verified profile of the driver. The person who pays for the Uber isn’t necessarily the rider. The driver gets pretty much nothing as far as who will be getting in their car. Honestly, that sounds like someone who should rethink the job she chose. That (very slight) risk seems inherent to a job in which you’re driving strangers around. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-paying-hitchhiking-right/726639.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-paying-hitchhiking-right/726639.md?page=3)