“Oh my God, is this an Uber Black ride?” asked my rider as he settled into the back seat of my Honda HR-V. His face expressed the virtual horror of a tourist pick-pocketed on North Michigan Avenue.
My 2016 model car is black* and clean; might it appear to be a luxury sedan? Toss in “immaculate” car and “well mannered, professional” driver dressed to impress and you have the premium Uber Black experience.
“No. I had a job interview this morning so I’m wearing a suit and tie. This is your basic UberX.”
He laughed as I started into Randolph Market traffic. “Good! I thought I accidentally ordered Uber Black again. I did it once before to treat myself. It was sooooo nice, but then when I got my credit card bill, I was like, ‘Shit, ninety-two dollars!”.
***
I may be the most overqualified Uber/Lyft driver. I’m not complaining; in fact, I’m thankful for the opportunity to work whenever I want, which recently is 80-90 hours a week. My five-year corporate job, Manager of Financial Planning and Analysis, at a Fortune 500 company was downsized in June 2016. After two months of full-time, but ultimately fruitless searching, a friend recommended Uber. I started in August. Because of my passable Spanish, I signed up for UberEspañol. I deliver pizza and curry for UberEATS.
Fortunately, a former co-worker hired me for a three month accounting-type contract job in September to cover for a data reporting specialist on maternity leave. I continued part-time Uber because, well, COBRA health insurance is kind of costly and a contract job lacks benefits. The contract position went very well, leading to a two month extension for special projects. I started driving for Lyft in January. In March 2017, I went back to full-time Uber and Lyft, while searching for full-time work “commensurate with my experience.” Driving is interesting and earns a few bucks; I anticipate continuing part-time when I land something solid.
***
They used to say “Join the Navy, see the world.” Now one could say, “Join Uber, the world comes to you.” Drunks, strippers, guys going to strip clubs, call girls, gamblers, economists, international tourists, cops, drug addicts, yellow Chicago Police crime scene tape, active police chases, men propositioning women on UberPool rides, riders propositioning me. The Chicago Cubs, President Obama, Hamilton, Trump Tower, Hubbard Street, The Green Mill, and above all, people – ordinary, interesting, bizarre, rich, poor, immigrant, you name it- driving for Uber exposes you to all walks of life.
This blog includes crazy Uber stories as well as my observations on Chicago- a city both gorgeous and ugly- urban blight, crime, parking tickets, the fall out of the 2016 elections, and Uber itself. I apply game theory to find the drivers’ Nash Equilibrium for Uber versus Lyft (yes, really; it’s that University of Chicago training). CEO Travis Kalanick and crew have a way of courting controversy as they grow the company so I will provide you the inside view. I review and critique the controversial book “Raw Deal: How the “Uber Economy” and Runaway Capitalism Are Screwing America.” Uber and Lyft are at the center of the controversy about American workers; my thoughts are forthcoming.
Thank you for visiting and please question and comment on my posts!
* technically, the Honda marketing gurus call my color “Mulberry Metallic,” but it looks black to the naked eye.
Milwaukee Avenue 