“Your Uber will be arriving in eight minutes.”
Perfect. Just enough time to put on your jacket and shoes, apply some lipstick, grab your keys (now where did I leave them?), step out the door (wait, did I turn my straightener off?), wait for the very slow elevator and reach your driver in… well, almost eight minutes.
Until now you probably got away with your lateness by apologizing sweetly, asking how your driver’s day is going, and sweet talking your way into at least a four-star rating.
But that could all be about to change if the ride-sharing company rolls out its new pilot scheme globally, which is currently testing out a new, stricter cancellation policy.
The changes, which are being tried out in New York City, New Jersey, Phoenix and Dallas, mean that Uber drivers who wait more than two minutes for passengers to arrive will be allowed to charge riders at the city’s per-minute rate for every one they’re kept waiting.
So that estimation of when your Uber is arriving is no longer just a loosey-goosey ballpark that you should roughly be aiming for. It’s time to stop dragging your heels and get to your ride promptly.
Which in theory is fair enough – but what about all those times when we’ve watched our phones in disbelief as our Uber driver cruises aimlessly in circles, a block away from your apartment, leaving us waiting outside in the cold.
The pilot will also limit the amount of time riders have to cancel trips. The scheme will run for several weeks and could become permanent if it’s deemed a success.
Previously, Uber users have been allowed a five-minute grace period to get into the car after it arrived.
So no pee-pee trips once you’ve requested your cab.
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