Is Driving Uber Scary?

What is it like to drive for Uber? Here is a recent evening:

 

7/22/15, Oakland, Ca

5:54pm - First rider of the night. 

Turns out she is a goldsmith working for a high end jewelry store in the Bay Area. Originally came from New York to study with a Japanese goldsmith who wants to take her under his wing. He is proposing that she inherit the family business. "So, I have a big, scary decision to make?" I laugh, "Why scary?" "I don't want to make Japan mad." I laugh a little softer, she may be crazy. "You mean you could make Japan the country angry?" "Yes, Japan has designated this goldsmith's family a national treasure." I look over at this tall, blond, 20-something, white woman. "Oh, that is scary."

6:09pm - Uptight techie to Temescal. 

He told me to ignore the computerized directions and instructed me on every turn to make – including how to get to my next destination which he assumed he knew. Since he was traveling less than 0.7 miles, I think he was afraid I'd take my sweet time and run up the meeter. Maybe he just liked control.

6:31pm

DJ going home, in West Oakland. Like all good performers, this young man was waiting tables while he worked on his DJ business. From the sound of it, he was doing well at both careers but he did live in "affordable" West Oakland. For those unfamiliar with the town, West Oakland is the kind of place people worry Uber drivers won’t go to because it has a reputation for being “dangerous.”

6:55pm

Hipster going home from work. She traveled less than 1/2 mile. When asked what it was like to live in her West Oakland neighborhood she got very excited and said it was “Great!” Of course, she had to add with a resigned shrug, “We had a shooting in the park last month. I am very careful around here after dark, don’t carry a lot of stuff, but it is great. You should think about moving here.” Of course, she did just pay $5 to have me drive her 0.4 miles through her "great" neighborhood an hour before sunset.

At first driving for Uber was scary but mainly because I didn't know what to expect. That is not real fear. Somethings are truly scary like trying to make a living or getting home at night. Driving for Uber is not scary. My biggest driving fear is getting lost but only because it would be very embarrassing.