TG Lyft Driver Quits After Attack In Portland, OR

[Carolyn Marie]

https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/transgender-lyft-driver-quits-after-alleged-attack-n1053076

 

Carolyn Marie

[Josie Beth]

I have considered working for lyft or Uber before and still might consider it, but I would have to go over their policy on refusal to pickup clients because that can help greatly reduce the risk. I don’t really tolerate drunk people so I probably wouldn’t even work on Friday or Saturday night. But some people don’t have the luxury to be picky or really need the money. It’s very tempting to go after the odds of making a lot in one night. 

 

Years ago I used to drive around looking for people to pick up at bus stops or grocery stores. I would drive them to wherever they needed to go. They paid up front. Some even paid extra for me to go with them so they could get a ride back. Sometimes a free meal along with tips and the fee.

 

It’s very lucrative if you know how to do it right and can screen your passengers. I would not pick up men or groups of men. I would pick up old ladies and women. Especially if they had a lot of groceries and children to try and wrangle with their groceries. They always paid and I was fair with the fee. I never charged anything close to cab fares which could be $40 for the same trip. I only charged $20 and got a tip. The only time I got stiffed was by a gay man who said they needed to go upstairs and then get a ride back to their own place and they just didn’t come back. So after that I would not pick up any men at all. Unless they were going to work and showed me the money. And usually it’s very obvious. I would not do anything at night. Only in the early morning or daytime.

 

I can definitely empathize with this girl because if you’re depending on another fare to pay the bills and they turn violent it’s just not worth the risk. Hopefully for other drivers these companies have thought of policies that allow drivers to screen passengers or even refuse service if they have a good reason.