Friday, August 14th, 2015, was my first night driving for Lyft; an app driven, peer-sharing ride service. This is going to be my surrogate job while I lay low, lick my wounds, and become a full-time house husband and father to Leroy James. As it is with many things lately, you can call me "First Time".
It was too late to get the car washed. Apparently, those things close at dusk. Explain that one to me. It was okay though. I got a full tank of diesel and wiped down the leatherette interior with Armor All. I then hit up the Plaid Pantry for their sale-item drinks, candy, & gum. My rides on Lyft were most memorable when they included free snacks, so... I'm going to be that kind of ride.
I had some app trouble. Probably user error, not quite proficient yet. I had to stand outside the car to cancel a ride, my first request! I'll admit I was nervous, and hadn't finished my cigarette. I had kinda decided it wasn't going to work, my insurance was in mid-renewal review status. I had been logged on for 20 minutes in drive-mode. Started to mentally write off the night.
After putting out my vice, I parked for awhile outside the Whole Foods on East Burnside. I messaged and flipped thru the music. I checked the App, and notice the pink zones. I started the car and started moving. Got surprised when I was finally pinged.
I admit my enthusiasm made me a fool, like it does. I began to drive desperate. My driving was a little fast and too loose as I tried to get there. I passed a long line of cabs on their left, then cut in. Turned right onto SE 9th, but had to cross lanes with less room than is polite. I confirmed my arrival, waited.
"Wait, did that blue pin move?" I need to get closer, I'll circle the block back onto E Burnside. The car stalled, turned off. I hit the emergency flashers, rolled to the edge curb, pulled the e-brake. Restart, reset, relaunch Spotify.
A packed Prius, peaked and interested, full of peering heads drove past me. It was a Yellow Cab, I was getting some heat. Better drive more safely, roll up to a full stop; behind all the lines, act professional. I also gotta remember to respect the locals, lords and current tenants of this business.
LED lights flash from the borders of my view, emerge from behind corners. Portland Police (Po Po) boxes me as I roll down the road, size me up, probably runs my plates. They don't stop me, I pass the pre-screen for now. Some kid shouts to me from the sidewalk, I answer him standing thru my sun-roof. I lost my fare during my confusion, or she got lost herself, her friends are pretty drunk.
Union Jack gives me attitude outside their parking lot entrance, blasting beats from a built up truck. Oh well, wait for another. I take the hint and leave.
I jumped to a few locals. The first time I rode Lyft, was SLC friends at Voice Box SE. So, I went there. I waited. A guy leaned in and asked if I was Brad? I wasn't. I waited for a request. 5 minutes before getting called back out. I got onto MLK and headed towards the fare.
The start seemed like a wash, my misunderstanding mid-smoke, but I get another request and accept. I pick up the next fare and my night feels like it begins. A quiet couple, I take them deep NE. I take guy home into John's Landing, we chat politely. I get a request at a Taco Truck downtown, and then another in the NE. It becomes really fun.
After a drop, I chase pink heat-maps that flicker, grow, and appear. Trying to catch the bonus high-demand sections. N Boise, Mississippi, Downtown, East Side Industrial all come to life. I head towards them, but not sure if I ever caught that bonus, despite entering with what I thought was time. Demand driven overlays shrunk, stall, disappear. Then I get another request.
I have a lot of fun though. The night moves on and I make just under $60 by the end. You can see below that my night ends inside 3 AM, I feel good about the night. I think I can do better.
Turns out there's this thing called "Acceptance Rate". Turning down/missing rides negatively impacts it, and I did a less adequate job at first. Now I gotta work my score back above 90% if I want to enter the bonus structure.
I learned a few other things driving that night:
- Wear my glasses, I'm not as young as once from youth.
- Start earlier
- Don't over-hydrate, you might have to pee into an old starbucks cup
- A glow buddy comes in real handy if you haven't earned your glowstache yet
