THE fairly recent and novel concept of ride-sharing, generally speaking, is a blessing to the thousands of suffering, middle-class, daily-commuting individuals. And so far, the rides have been okay, with probably just a few bumps along the road of transport progress.
Ride-sharing allows the average vehicle owner—at least, this was the original intent—to take a few hours of being unproductive and turn it into a revenue-generating driving routine. The driver is his own boss, and that said, owns his little “brand” and is responsible for how the product (ride) is perceived by consumers—or in this case, passengers (or riders).
Here are probably the seven types of ride-sharing drivers one can or has probably already met one time or the other while on the road in a ride-sharing service. Combinations of any or all of these types are possible.
The polite. This driver is all smiles when you open the door to the car. The driver then sets out a warm greeting, which may or may not be reciprocated equally by riders. But if it is the latter, the driver remains unfazed. He or she asks the rider if the air conditioning is cool enough, or asks if the rider has a preferred route to his or her destination. Regardless of the rider’s attitude, this driver stays warm and drives safely along the streets of Cebu, getting his or her rider to his or her destinations safe and sound.
The clueless. Some drivers just have no clue. When a driver relies on Waze to get him or her through a little city like Cebu, then that’s a sign that you might also want to keep your eyes on the road as well just in case some guidance is needed. Not only is this applicable to routes, but to road courtesy as well. A driver once just stopped in the middle of the road when riders had to get off the car already—the guy didn’t even bother stopping over by the side of the road.
The human GPS. Those who have practically spent their entire lives in Cebu and are now drivers for ride-sharing services get to show off their secret shortcuts and traffic tricks. These people can beat Waze at its own game, and that is an admirable skill that is very much needed these days when traffic is becoming a major life hassle.
The talker. And then there’s this guy who can’t stop talking. Sometimes it’s cool, but sometimes, some riders just want to sit in silence and probably just look out the window watching the world go by—or watching the world through social media on his smartphone. Yes, it may come across as rude should one choose not to engage in a conversation when a driver is trying to hold one. But if a driver chooses to engage in a conversation with a complete stranger, he or she better be good at it, lest he or she be judged as nosy and intrusive.
The silent type. There are good, fun drivers out there. And then there are those who choose not to speak a word—not even a greeting or anything so as to make the rider feel comfy and safe. Well, better silent or talkative? It’s all subjective. But these drivers exist.
The driving DJ. Once you enter the vehicle, you notice that the driver’s phone is already playing the Top 20 hits on Spotify. Or there’s another driver, who’s into some FlipTop music, and you notice his car’s sound system is just as bling as audio can get. There are also drivers into throwback music, who skip a track or two when it gets to Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls.
The annoying. Finally, there are those drivers who you wish didn’t just start driving in the first place. They aren’t really reckless on the road (maybe a little), but these guys are the types who don’t drive all the way to their riders' pickup points or destinations. Or those who babble about how far you’re headed, or charge you extra for “gas and traffic.” These are just a few examples of how one’s ride can turn into a nightmare on the road.