Well, actually, I managed to have another mix-up/cancellation before getting an actual rider! I got a request as I was driving towards downtown from the South End, and accepted. But then I paniced a little because I realized it was an UberXL request, and I wasn't sure how that would go.
A quick aside on UberX vs UberXL - UberX is any random car, while UberXL requires that you have 6 seatbelts in addition to the driver - so an SUV or van of some type. It so happens I drive a Ford Explorer, which qualifies for UberXL, because it has a third row of seats. Problem is, I drive with the third row folded down so it has a non-zero amount of trunk space. That's going to be a PITA if I drive up to a rider who has 6 people and wants to go - it's not too hard to switch out, but it's not instantaneous either. So I quickly canceled and presumably they got another driver.
Trip count: still ZERO.
Quickly though, another request comes in, just for an UberX, and it's a location I know, Jacob Wirth in the theatre district. Woohoo! Off I go!
I quickly identify my riders after pulling up, and open the door (I'm such a gentleman! Also, the Uber video told me riders like that) - woot, we're ready to go! They've entered their destination in the app (on the "other side of the world" in Cambridge), so I confirm it with them, and back to Waze to navigate. They immediately start speaking rapid-fire Spanish or Portuguese (sorry, I don't know either well enough to tell the difference) to one another, and I guess I'm purely the silent driver for this one - no problem.
As we're getting close, they asked me to take a specific turn (which I was taking anyway) for a quick stop - no problem. We stop by an apartment building and let one of the two women out, then continue the short remaining distance to the destination. I am confused when the rider suggests I drop her off "by all the other Ubers", but sure enough, there's a big cluster of what must be Ubers waiting for their next fare outside of our destination. I drop her off, and the first trip is done!
Trip count: 1! Trip earnings: $5.29
At this point I'm halfway through my planned hour of driving for my first night, so I stay online hoping to get in one or two more rides. I just randomly start meandering through Cambridge towards Kendall Square, figuring maybe I'll get someone working late heading home, or someone from MIT.
Sure enough, the app starts blinking at me, and I've got a pick-up on Memorial Drive. Waze gets me there and I pick up a college student or young professional. He's also entered a destination in the app and... it's just 2 minutes down Memorial Drive? I confirm it with the rider, and sure enough, that's his destination, so off we go. I don't really need nav for this one, and 2 minutes later, I pull over and drop off rider #2. More success!
Trip count: 2. Trip earnings: $4.00
That $4.00 represents the minimum possible fare for UberX in Boston, by the way. It cost the rider $6.15 (including Uber's fee to me plus their booking fee) unless he had a monthly pass, which they've been testing out here in Boston.
I decided to call it a night, even though I'd only done two trips; I didn't want to stay out late, and I knew I'd be online again soon.
Day 1 trip count: 2
Day 1 earnings: $9.29
Hmm, I'm definitely not going to get rich on this. Don't worry, Day 2 gets much better!
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