3 ms·

To be fair, you are basically describing a taxi service or professional driving service, word for word. The friendly, talkative atmosphere is exactly what Lyft

To be fair, you are basically describing a taxi service or professional driving service, word for word. The friendly, talkative atmosphere is exactly what Lyft is marketing towards. In fact, a comment directly below yours talks about how great the atmosphere is for them and how it feels like a true ride sharing service between friends. One couldn't even argue the ride sharing between friends when you actively don't want to communicate with your driver....

ryanhuff 12y ago
I have never taken an Uber ride, but maybe the reason why they are seen as #1 is that they are not trying to invent some new kind of relationship with riders. I did hear recently that Lyft was moving away from the fist-bump and mustache.
mmagin 12y ago
It may be an introvert thing, but I find this similar to how I vastly prefer the self-checkout machines at the supermarket. I don't really want to expend the finite emotional energy I have on being fake-social with people I don't even know while I'm making a business transaction. Although apparently Lyft is now available where I live, it's never even had the inclination to try their service (as a passenger) because I find actually meeting new people and having open-ended conversations with them quite exhausting and stressful. At least with UberX I am assured we can just be polite to each other and not say much.
- elwell 12y ago
  There's a Bible proverb somewhere that says, "He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed." Sometimes it can seem like we only have a finite amount of emotional energy, but keep in mind the ways to refresh that store.
  - deleted 12y ago
    [deleted]
prawn 12y ago
I think there's probably a middle ground between the ordering/app experience of one of these services, and the "I just want to sit in the back and ignore you" of a taxi. No taxi I've taken recently has enabled me to smoothly order and pay by app. I'm not asocial, but sometimes I'd rather just get from A-to-B without fuss.
- vertex-four 12y ago
  Oddly, I've found London taxis to be the best at this. They're usually able to keep up on a conversation about a variety of things - we once had a taxi driver explain to us all the nasty parts of the brewing process of Stella Artois - but they're quite happy to let you sit in the back and not talk if you want.
ghaff 12y ago
Taxi service on a good day. Lots of taxi drivers are more than happy to fill in any gaps of knowledge you may have on the political issues of the moment :-) But to your broader point, tastes do differ.

ryanhuff 12y ago

I have never taken an Uber ride, but maybe the reason why they are seen as #1 is that they are not trying to invent some new kind of relationship with riders. I did hear recently that Lyft was moving away from the fist-bump and mustache.

mmagin 12y ago

It may be an introvert thing, but I find this similar to how I vastly prefer the self-checkout machines at the supermarket. I don't really want to expend the finite emotional energy I have on being fake-social with people I don't even know while I'm making a business transaction. Although apparently Lyft is now available where I live, it's never even had the inclination to try their service (as a passenger) because I find actually meeting new people and having open-ended conversations with them quite exhausting and stressful. At least with UberX I am assured we can just be polite to each other and not say much.

elwell 12y ago
There's a Bible proverb somewhere that says, "He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed." Sometimes it can seem like we only have a finite amount of emotional energy, but keep in mind the ways to refresh that store.
- deleted 12y ago
  [deleted]

prawn 12y ago

I think there's probably a middle ground between the ordering/app experience of one of these services, and the "I just want to sit in the back and ignore you" of a taxi. No taxi I've taken recently has enabled me to smoothly order and pay by app. I'm not asocial, but sometimes I'd rather just get from A-to-B without fuss.

vertex-four 12y ago
Oddly, I've found London taxis to be the best at this. They're usually able to keep up on a conversation about a variety of things - we once had a taxi driver explain to us all the nasty parts of the brewing process of Stella Artois - but they're quite happy to let you sit in the back and not talk if you want.

ghaff 12y ago

Taxi service on a good day. Lots of taxi drivers are more than happy to fill in any gaps of knowledge you may have on the political issues of the moment :-) But to your broader point, tastes do differ.