Northwood News ♦ October 2016

My Experiences Driving for Uber in Washington, D.C.

By Sam Leibowitz

“It’s a crazy idea; it will never work,” I replied to my friend Mel when he first told me about Uber.  We were at an Orioles game in Baltimore and he whipped out his phone and opened the Uber app, showing me the moving cars on the screen.  When he told me that, if I want, I could leave the game early and go home because he could simply “Uber” back to Silver Spring, I was skeptical.  He explained to me this amazing technology — how anyone with a smartphone can get a ride at any time of the day to go anywhere, without having any cash on them — but I totally discounted it.  Getting into a random stranger’s car didn’t seem like a practice most Americans would agree to do.

Little did I know how wrong I was!  When I realized that all my friends and neighbors are using Uber, I warmed up to the idea.  But, rather than riding as a passenger, I was more attracted to driving for Uber and making good money.  I decided to give it a try and become an Uber driver.  I signed up through a link by another Uber driver (that way both he and I received a nice $500 bonus), and I passed a safety and background check.  I was ready to give my first ride.

In the year that I have been driving for Uber, it has turned out to be one of the best working experiences I’ve ever had.  Earning a good salary while using cutting-edge technology to help people is very satisfying.  I’ve met interesting people from all walks of life — foreign diplomats, doctors, professional actors, musicians and dancers, hilarious tourists, a scientist who studied mice, a Congressional chief of staff, Georgetown University’s athletic director, and plenty of couples out on a date.  It’s somewhat of a mystery:  who will get into my car, whether they will be quiet or talkative, and, in the latter case, what we’re going to discuss.

Every person has a story, and I always learn something new from passengers, regardless of their background.  I once drove a couple in their twenties who decided to celebrate their three-year anniversary of dating by going to a Kanye West concert.  I had never heard a Kanye West song, so they were happy to share with me why they like him, and they played on their smartphone one of his hits, “Runaway.”  I also enriched their musical taste.  It happened to be the birthday of Czech composer Antonin Dvorak (one of my favorite composers) and his music was playing on my radio.  We talked about how Dvorak stayed true to his ethnic roots, but at the same time loved African-American spirituals and Native-American music, incorporating those melodies into his symphonies.  Fascinated by this composer, the couple immediately downloaded some of Dvorak’s greatest hits — the Slavonic Dances and the New World Symphony.

Another great aspect of working for Uber is the flexibility.  Not only am I my own boss, but it’s quite convenient to be able to go out and earn money at any hour of the day or night.  Uber does not require any minimum hours, and I’m able to fit the “Ubering” into my week, whether I’m super-busy or have a lot of free time.

I often meet tourists and visitors, and I like to recommend great sites to tour and good concerts to check out.  As a resident of the Washington, D.C., area for 12 years, I am familiar with several off-the-beaten-path places, such as walking across the Key Bridge at night, and visitors appreciate getting these kinds of tips.

Geographic sites are not the only items you can promote.  Uber allows you to promote to your passengers — albeit with tact — your own business.  So whether you are a tutor (as I am), a contractor, or a DJ, you can drive for Uber and become an “Uberpreneur”!  Uberpreneurs — as the name suggests — are creative people who use their verbal skills to promote the business they own or a service they provide while driving for Uber.

Even if you don’t own a business, driving for Uber will widen your horizons.  Whether it was the Ethiopian caretaker, the Lebanese doctor, or the Pakistani professor, I have had many great conversations with people from a multitude of backgrounds.  It turns out that Ubering promotes good relations between people of different ethnicities and religions.

Passengers often ask me about working for Uber.  Based on my experiences, if you own a car that’s a 2001 model or newer, you’re a safe driver, and curiosity is your middle name, it’s well worth trying out because it’s a rewarding endeavor, both socially and financially.

[Sam Leibowitz lives on Eisner Street.  He can be reached at (contact details redacted.]   ■