Uber on Big Island

[PaulW]

Kirt, if you're willing to keep sharing your experiences, I'd love to hear them!
I hope Uber makes it here.

I heard they want to implement tipping in NYC. Bad move.

[terracore]

"Does anybody have experience with cab prices for a similar route?"

Hilo near Makaala where my car broke down to Orchidland / 40th: $55.

Tow to Curlee's in HPP: Free with my USAA "roadside assistance".

[knieft]

quote:

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Originally posted by PaulW

Kirt, if you're willing to keep sharing your experiences, I'd love to hear them!
I hope Uber makes it here.

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April 10-17, Time online 6hr 7min, $47.13 ($7.71/hr) 6 trips
April 3-10, Time online 3hr, 40 min, $6.77 ($1.85/hr) 1 trip
Mar 27-Apr 3, Time online 7hr, 33min, $37.50, ($4.99/hr) 5 trips
Mar 20-27, Time online 12 hr,19min, $46.97, ($3.82/hr) 6 trips
Mar 13-20, Time online 17hr, 27min, $78.42, ($8.31/hr) 8 trips

Overal 47.1 hours, $216.79 ($4.60/hour) 26 trips

Maybe this weekend will be better with Merry Monarch.

Still no trips from or to Puna so the time/gas to and from Hilo is just a waste, like any commuter. As well as wasted hours online in Pahoa, Orchidland and Keaau (probably six total hours). Which means I should just get to Hilo and give up on Puna, but how will it ever get going in Puna if there are never any drivers online there?

I should mention that the Lyft ecosystem is really wonk. I signed up for them as a driver months ago when I did so for Uber. Still says I haven't completed my application and that Lyft is not available in Hilo. Yet there is no way through the app or webpage for me to complete the application (basically photos of registration, insurance, safety check, etc.). The Lyft "help" appears to be robosoftware and is useless.

On a positive note, the navigation has been much better in the last week or so.

Driver rating 4.8.

The driver referral bonus is down to $50.

And I surprisingly received a total of $28 in cash tips ($24 on one trip! and $4 on another), so that puts the hourly wage over $5/hour.

Most trips are tourists (Banyan Drive to dining/Walmart/Richardson's etc.) Some UH students to or from shopping. Some residents getting to or from work/home.

Can't think of anything else to share.

Cheers,
Kirt

[Eric1600]

What are you doing during your "time online"? Are you actually sitting in the car waiting or are you doing other things?

[knieft]

quote:

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Originally posted by Eric1600

What are you doing during your "time online"? Are you actually sitting in the car waiting or are you doing other things?

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Sitting in car listening to audiobooks or spanish instruction.

The only exception is in Pahoa, where I can be in my classroom doing stuff, but never got a ride so far anyway.

Cheers,
Kirt

[PaulW]

Do you actually have to be in your car (does Uber detect that) or could you be sitting in Starbucks?

Thanks for the update!

[Justin]

Trying this now; hopefully I can make it back home tonight.

[Guest]

I don't think the Uber driver pay is good enough to deal with things like this.

http://abc7chicago.com/news/teen-charged...d/2058818/

Late night calls from the bars should be avoided or charged double. jmo

[HI_Someday]

Maybe these will start up on the Big Island: UberRush & UberEats. Basically its Uber delivery service: one for food and one for everything else... I don't know how widespread they are yet.

[randomq]

$5/hr, minus gas and mileage, minus self-employment taxes and associated quarterly filings... No thanks. Time to sign up for food stamps!

Come to think of it: Does the on-line time count towards your hours worked for food stamps and welfare? Maybe we'll have thousands of uber drivers in Puna, all going nowhere.