Lyft Employee Claims They Just Secretly Updated Their Matching Algorithm: Rideshare Drivers React

[Editor’s note: Quotes are lightly edited for clarity]

Our latest episode on The Rideshare Guy! Take a listen to my latest podcast episode with Upshift Cars founder Ezra Goldman, where we talk about Upshift, how it’s different from traditional car sharing and more. 

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Lyft Employee Claims They Just Secretly Updated Their Matching Algorithm

An anonymous Lyft tipster reached out to us about changes Lyft recently made to its matching algorithm. The claim? Lyft is prioritizing drivers with lower insurance costs.

We reached out to Lyft for comment, but did not hear back at time of publication or since then. Does that mean it’s true? You can be the judge of that. While I understand why a change like this would be made (and why other rideshare companies, like Uber, probably do it too!), my problem is there is no transparency as to how the matching algorithm works. 

If drivers are getting fewer rides because of certain actions, Lyft should close the feedback loop and let drivers know so they can improve.

Here’s what readers are saying:

Reader Ezra blames Proposition 22 for this change, although according to the anonymous tipster, this is being rolled out nationwide:

“It must be nice to write your own laws and then implement policies like this.

Riders and drivers just use the platform to match, right? Only problem is Lyft controls who gets matched and how much they pay/get paid. That's not a marketplace, that's a scam.

We need changes at the federal level before the next Ubers and Lyft complete the decimation of the working class in this country.”

Reader Greg disagrees, and says it’s up to drivers to demand better conditions (or not!):

“No, drivers simply need to quit and get another job. Nobody was demanding regulation when drivers where making $100,000+ a year, certainly not The Rideshare Guy. Then rideshare became popular, and all of a sudden a bunch of drivers are angry. I get it, I'm angry too, but I did something about it. I stopped driving full-time, and I'm glad I did.”

Chime in on the discussion here.

Uber Flagged My Driver Account For Improper Use!

Rideshare customer service is generally a black box, at least for drivers. Put in a complaint, and watch it disappear into the ether. This is even more common during the pandemic, when Uber and Lyft have largely shut down their in-person driver hubs. 

Recently, RSG contributor Joe P. was deactivated due to ‘fraudulent activity’. Here’s what happened, what he did to solve it, and how drivers can take the same approach if this happens to them. 

Here’s what readers are saying:

Viewer Alex echoes a common sentiment among drivers about Uber customer service: they don’t know what’s going on, and only want to placate drivers to move them along:

“If you've been doing Uber for so long, you should know that their CSR team doesn't have a clue. 

So she basically repeated whatever you said to reassure you. She didn't give a reason because she had no clue what happened.

Viewer Melissa attributes this poor customer service to Uber’s expansion into delivery:

“Uber has been so sketchy ever since they merged with Postmates. They've merged around 2 weeks ago and ever since I haven’t been getting that much business... I think some things up. They’re trying to lay off drivers I think."

Chime in on the discussion here.

New Study Finds Uber and Lyft Could Pay Drivers More

A new report out of Berkeley says that Uber and Lyft can afford to pay drivers more, based on data gathered from New York City’s minimum wage standard. 

Unfortunately, while a headline like that grabs attention, it’s not entirely true - or beneficial for drivers. Where this has happened, Uber and Lyft have restricted the number of drivers as well as where they can drive. 

This isn’t what many drivers want. But that kind of headline (Uber and Lyft Could Pay Drivers More - If They Employed Fewer Drivers) isn’t the kind that grabs attention.

Here’s what readers are saying:

According to reader James, this isn’t necessarily bad as long as only the best drivers are kept on the platform and fewer bad drivers are retained:

“So there will be less drivers?...I can't really see that as a bad thing. I certainly do way more than 100 rides a month. As a 5 star driver who DOES accept almost every ride, what I don't understand is why they don't link the access priority to the ever-so-important STAR RATING they press drivers to strive for instead of the ACCEPTANCE RATING they really can't squawk about considering the I/C status they seem all-too-often to forget. 

They're walking a thin line here. Perhaps under better stewardship, these companies will survive, but I'm not holding my breath - or buying any stock in them.

Chime in on the discussion here.

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