Move over Uber, because I’m recommending Lyft.
Lyft is perhaps the less well-known form of a taxi alternative, but I support Lyft.
There are a few service differences I’ve noticed between Uber and Lyft ride-sharing apps. My choice to ride with Lyft comes down to principle and customer service.
The basics for both apps, if you’re unfamiliar with ride-sharing technology: it’s a taxi-like service you can pull up on your phone. The app gathers your location, you enter in your destination, it spits out a fare estimate and a person is sent to your location to pick you up. You pay the driver through your phone, entering your billing information.
On both Uber and Lyft, you can read ratings on the drivers, cancel the ride if needed, and also see the car model and license plate coming to pick you up.
I get chatty with both Lyft and Uber drivers — actually, Taxi drivers too. But the drivers who work both for Uber and for Lyft all say the same thing: Lyft pays and treats them better, also taking a smaller percentage commission off their rides.
Lyft was also the first app allowing you to tip drivers using your phone. Obviously, it is an employee-centric service. Uber only recently added the “tipping” feature, following suit from Lyft.
Because Lyft is still in its early stages compared to Uber as the tech juggernaut (giant force) in the ridesharing industry, Lyft is building up their driver staffing. Once in a while, this might mean a few minutes longer wait time — if that.
On the whole, a Lyft ride might be some pennies on the dollar more expensive than Uber because there is a smaller supply of drivers and a higher demand for customers.
But, the cost difference isn’t obvious. Prices between Lyft and Uber mostly comparable, until Uber uses its “surcharges” during peak times, in which case Lyft is consistently cheaper. It seems Uber spikes the prices more often, and fewer of those dollars go to their drivers.
While Lyft keeps the prices relatively consistent, with their employees making more commission.
Lyft customer service is much better than Uber — if a driver has ever shown up later than expected, etc. I’ve written a quick note to Lyft and they’ve always solved the problem or given me a ride credit of some sort for my troubles.
My last case for riding with Lyft over Uber involves a little bit of studying news reports.
Headlines in the past years show Uber with a stream of alleged scandals including investigations on questionable spy programs on users —there’s an option for Uber to see the “location” of your phone, even though you’ve closed the app.
There was some uproar from users saying Uber was allegedly monitoring how far someone would walk or their next location, etc. after being dropped off. These accusations, freaking out a lot of users.
Uber faces claims of sexual harassment and discrimination, including leaks of questionable executive conduct and allegations against some drivers. Some of these controversies lead to resignations from Uber employees.
Perhaps none of the company environment actually affects your experience of Lyft or Uber.
For me, I prefer to support a company that keeps its employees happier, provides stronger customer service, and frankly, is less involved in controversy — even if once it awhile it means a pay a few extra pennies for a ride.
