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According to The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, a survey of rideshare drivers in 20 cities across the United States found that drivers in Pittsburgh are roughly in the middle of the pack when it comes to how much they earn per trip. So what can you do to start being a more profitable rideshare driver? Whether you’re a casual rideshare driver or consider it your full-time career, below we have 4 ways that drivers in Pittsburgh can increase their earnings.

1. Know the Pittsburgh hotspots

If you want to increase your earnings (which we all do) you’ll have to know the times and locations for the Pittsburgh hotspots. So what exactly is a “hotspot”? Hotspots are geographic areas which experience extremely high passenger demand at certain times of the week. Below are some of the top Pittsburgh hotspots that rideshare drivers should become familiar with.

Southside

Take one look at East Carson Street on a Friday or Saturday night and you’ll understand why Southside is definitely a Pittsburgh hotspot. With 3 major colleges all within close proximity to the Southside along with the slew of bars and restaurants on East Carson Street, this location is definitely one to become familiar with as a rideshare driver, especially on weekend nights.

Shadyside

The primary riders in this centrally located neighborhood are the college students and young professionals that inhabit the area. In contrast to Southside, however, there’s a greater likelihood of getting ride requests during the week from commuters.

North Shore

Located in downtown Pittsburgh along the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers, the North Shore is most famous for its iconic sports venues: Heinz Field and PNC Park. This hotspot is a must for rideshare drivers who want to take advantage of potential surge pricing after Steelers games at Heinz Field and Pirates games at PNC Park.

2. Drive for more than one TNC

If you’re currently driving for one TNC and enjoy the income, you may want to consider how driving for a second company can increase your earnings. Driving for two different services at the same time opens you up to getting more requests and diversifies your income stream. Ultimately, this will lead to more money in your pocket. TNCs in the Pittsburgh area include Uber, Lyft, zTrip, and Cabby Go.

Another way that working for more than one TNC can help drivers in Pittsburgh increase their earnings is through the sign-up bonuses that different companies offer. According to Rideshare Connection, the current sign-up bonuses for drivers in Pittsburgh are $300 for Uber and $100 for Lyft. While Lyft publishes sign-up bonuses on their website, Uber does not. Blogs and websites like Rideshare Connection use feedback from readers and partners to create their list of offers, but you can always contact the TNC directly to verify the current bonus offer for the Pittsburgh area.

3. Always plan ahead

When it comes to rideshare driving amongst all of the one-way streets and hundreds of bridges that make up the City of Pittsburgh, planning ahead is necessary to use your time most efficiently and increase your earning potential.

Even though rush hour downtown and late weekend nights in the South Side may seem like the best places to be in order to take advantage of the surge, driving during these busy times without a plan will get you nowhere fast. In fact, experienced rideshare drivers often recommend to avoid chasing the surge. While it may seem tempting, many veterans say it rarely pays off. Aimlessly chasing the surge is not only a waste of time, but also a waste of gas along with the addition of wear and tear to your vehicle.

A better course of action is to plan your days ahead of time so you can be in the hotspot areas just before the surge begins. Driving efficiently during these peak times is a great way for drivers in Pittsburgh to increase their earnings because they are able to take advantage of surge pricing.

4. Use the Gridwise app to drive more efficiently

Gridwise is a service-agnostic platform created to increase rideshare drivers’ performance, thus resulting in increased earnings. No matter which rideshare service you drive for, the Gridwise app provides you with features that enable you to drive more efficiently.

For example, the Gridwise mobile app offers a Airport Demand Data feature that can be used to gauge driver demand at the Pittsburgh International Airport.

Additionally, the Gridwise app provides a 7-day outlook on events and end time updates from the major events. You’ll be updated if the Steelers head into overtime and you’ll know exactly when the Katy Perry concert ends at PPG Arena. This way you won’t have to waste time waiting outside these venues, estimating when events will end.

Don’t just take our word for it, though - download the Gridwise app now to see all the features and resources you’ll have available right at your fingertips!

In September of 2016, the City of Pittsburgh became the host for Uber’s latest endeavor: self-driving cars. At this time, Bill Peduto, the Mayor of Pittsburgh, demonstrated enthusiasm for the experiment by saying, “You can either put up red tape or roll out the red carpet. If you want to be a 21st-century laboratory for technology, you put out the carpet.” (New York Times) It was seen as an opportunity to transform their urban transportation system as well as boost the city’s reputation as a tech economy.

Just nine months later, however, Mayor Peduto along with the residents of Pittsburgh have quite a different outlook on Uber’s presence in their city. Are the self-driving cars in Pittsburgh not performing adequately? What is the future of autonomous vehicles in Pittsburgh? Read on to find out the answers to these questions and more that surround the presence of self-driving cars in Pittsburgh.

Uber’s self-driving cars in Pittsburgh

The tension between Uber and the city of Pittsburgh is based on a clash of private-versus-public interests, rather than problems with self-driving cars themselves. In fact, during the time Uber’s self-driving cars navigated the narrow roads, steep hills, and hundreds of bridges of Pittsburgh there were no major accidents.

Of note, while these cars do drive autonomously, they still require two Uber drivers to be present in the vehicle. One is prepared to grab the wheel and apply a foot to the brake pedal if necessary. The person in the passenger seat monitors a computer screen that shows the view from the car’s rooftop LIDAR, a laser-bouncing radar. (NPR)

It turns out that having the Uber drivers present in the self-driving cars was a necessity. Earlier in 2017, Recode reported that Uber’s self-driving cars only drove an average of close to 0.8 miles before the safety driver had to take over for one reason or another.

While Uber’s self-driving cars are not fully autonomous yet, they are using information learned from these trials through the streets of Pittsburgh to make improvements. However, Mayor Peduto has said that he does not think that Uber is sharing what it’s learning, which is just one factor contributing to the controversy between Uber and the City of Pittsburgh.

In addition to the insufficient data from Uber, The New York Times reports that the company has not lived up to its end of the bargain with Pittsburgh based on the following perceived infringements:

• Uber began charging for driverless rides that were initially pitched as free
• The company withdrew support from Pittsburgh’s application for a $50 million federal grant to revamp transportation
• Uber has not created the jobs it proposed in a struggling Pittsburgh neighborhood that houses its autonomous car testing track

Linda Bailey, the executive director of the National Association of City Transportation Officials, states that Uber “is a business, and they want to make money. With Pittsburgh, we learned we need to present the city’s needs upfront.” (New York Times)

What is the future of autonomous vehicles?

Of course, while Uber is one of the top rideshare services that drivers are using, it isn’t the only company pursuing the development of self-driving cars. Apple, Google, Lyft, Tesla, Ford, GM, Toyota, and Chevrolet are some of the big names pursuing this new technology, along with many other companies across the globe.

While major strides have been made in the development of self-driving cars, the predictions for vehicles that are fully autonomous is pretty far off. For example, Tesla estimates that its autonomous vehicles will reach the market around 2023, and Uber doesn’t expect its self-driving cars until at least 2030.

In regards to the future of self-driving cars in Pittsburgh, Mayor Peduto states that he is now talking to Ford about signing commitments on data sharing and workforce development. (The NY Times) Ford is investing $1 billion in a Pittsburgh-based driverless technology company, Argo AI.

Raj Rajkumar, a Carnegie Mellon electrical and computer engineering professor, says that a world where such cars are the norm is a long way off. "It turns out that driving is a very complex activity. In fact, it may be the most complex activity that most adults on the planet engage in," Rajkumar explains. (NPR) Plus, when you add in local driving quirks, such as The Pittsburgh Left, driving can become even more complicated. Overall, the technology and engineering that go into developing these vehicles is impressive, but seeing autonomous vehicles take over the road is not in the foreseeable future.

Have you seen Uber’s self-driving cars in Pittsburgh? What are your thoughts on the future of autonomous vehicles in the rideshare industry? Leave us a comment below!

Did you know that Washington DC was named the best city in the country for rideshare drivers? An article from The Washington Post describes a study which examined factors like the number of rich young people in a city and the population’s reliance on public transit to determine the places most ripe for rideshare drivers, with Washington DC coming out on top.

Albeit, these results were from 2015, but with the hundreds of thousands of drivers and millions of users across the US, it is safe to say that this new industry is still exploding. So as a DC rideshare driver, how can you stay ahead of the competition and increase your earnings?

1. Drive for more than one TNC

The primary TNCs that currently have a presence in the District include Uber, Lyft, Via, and Curb. If you already drive for one of these companies and enjoy the income, you may want to consider signing up for another company as well. Driving for two different services at the same time opens you up to getting more requests and diversifies your income stream. Ultimately, this will lead to more money in your pocket.

If the increased earning potential from driving for more than one rideshare service sounds enticing, you may want to also keep in mind the sign-up bonuses that different companies offer. According to Rideshare Connection, the current sign-up bonuses for drivers in Washington DC are $300 for Uber and $200 for Lyft. While Lyft publishes sign-up bonuses on their website, Uber does not. Blogs and websites like Rideshare Connection use feedback from readers and partners to create their list of offers, but you can always contact the TNC directly to verify the current bonus offer for the DC area.

2. Know the DC hotspots

If you want to increase your earnings (which we all do) you’ll have to know the times and locations for the DC hotspots. So what exactly is a “hotspot”? Hotspots are geographic areas which experience extremely high passenger demand at certain times of the week.

In Washington DC, the local hotspots currently include the following areas:

• Georgetown - The primary riders in this historic neighborhood are the young professionals that inhabit the area as well as tourists who are interested in getting a ride to destinations such as Tudor Palace and the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal.
• Arlington - The metro access and lower prices for rent draw a younger crowd to this area, so you can expect your typical drive to head to and from U Street as well as commuter trips.
• Bethesda and Silver Spring - These two suburban cities that surround the capital are popular for those that want the city life but not the city hassles. You can expect passengers to be either commuters or those who want to be a part of DC nightlife.
• Southern Maryland & Northern Virginia Suburbs - Most commonly passengers from these two areas will need a ride to or from the airport. However, more and more commuters are originating from these areas due to the population increase in the DC metro area.

3. Always plan ahead

When it comes to rideshare driving, making a plan before you start driving is necessary to use your time most efficiently and increase your earning potential.

Even though rush hour in downtown and weekend late nights on 14th St. may seem like the best places to be in order to take advantage of the surge, driving during these busy times without a plan will get you nowhere fast.

In fact, experienced rideshare drivers recommend to newbies to never chase the surge. While it may be tempting, many veterans say it rarely pays off. Aimlessly chasing the surge is not only a waste of time, but also a waste of gas along with the addition of wear and tear to your vehicle.

A better course of action is to plan your days ahead of time so you can be in the hotspot areas just before the surge begins. Driving during these peak times increases your earnings per trip compared to what you would receive without the surges.

4. Use the Gridwise app to drive more efficiently

Gridwise is a service-agnostic platform created to increase rideshare drivers’ performance, thus resulting in increased earnings. No matter which rideshare service you drive for, the Gridwise app provides you with features that enable you to drive more efficiently.

For example, the Gridwise mobile app offers an Airport Demand Data feature that can be used to gauge driver demand at the three major airports in the DC area. Additionally, the Gridwise app provides a 7-day outlook on events. The end time updates from the major events, like when the Redskins go into overtime with the Bengals or when Kanye West is going to end at the Verizon Center, will help you be in the right place at the right time.

Don’t just take our word for it, though - download the Gridwise app now to see all the features and resources you’ll have available right at your fingertips!

Pittsburgh drivers are a unique breed. Mostly because they have to be in order to navigate Pittsburgh’s infamous one-lane streets, crazy steep hills, narrow tunnels that seem more like neverending black holes, and hundreds of bridges. Yes, there are hundreds of bridges in Pittsburgh, 446 to be exact. They didn’t name it “The City of Bridges” for nothing, right?

Whether you are new to the Pittsburgh area or just passing through, it’s helpful to know what Pittsburgh drivers do that other drivers don’t. To prepare for your travels through the city-- and to keep your earnings up-- keep scrolling to learn more about the local quirks of Pittsburgh drivers.

The Infamous “Pittsburgh Left”

As mentioned above, much of Pittsburgh, especially the downtown area, is made up of narrow, one-lane streets. And even if the street does have two lanes, one lane is guaranteed to be lined with parked cars since driveways and parking lots were not in the plans when Pittsburgh was built. Subsequently, most intersections are lacking left-turn-only lanes, which can hold up traffic when a car is attempting to turn left since the cars behind it cannot proceed through the intersection. Thus the “Pittsburgh Left” developed.

The Pittsburgh Left starts with two cars facing one another at a red traffic light: one driver is turning left (and is in a lane without a protected left turn) and the other driver is going straight. The left-turning driver is attentively awaiting the change of light from red to green because once the light turns green, the driver is ready to quickly proceed left before the opposing traffic begins driving straight. If the left-turning car can accomplish this they have saved themselves as well as the drivers behind them from waiting for an entire light cycle to turn left.

Some may read this and think it is simply the left-turning driver’s way of cutting someone off, but the Pittsburgh Left is a known driving practice in this city. So much so that often the driver that plans to proceed straight through the intersection will often expect the opposing car to perform a Pittsburgh Left. The driver will wave them on or flash their lights to indicate the anticipation of the Pittsburgh Left. (CMU) Furthermore, the oncoming cars will typically accelerate slowly enough to allow the turn to be completed without anyone slowing down or being delayed at all.

The Pittsburgh Turn Signal

The Pittsburgh Turn Signal (or lack thereof) is another practice that Pittsburgh drivers do that other drivers don’t. It involves delaying activation of a turn signal until just beginning to make the turn. Picture this: you’re sitting behind a car at a red light, but it’s not until the light turns green and the car in front of you starts to move that you’ll see the turn signal start flashing. Gregg Podnar of CMU explains, “It has been suggested this custom originated with thrifty drivers trying to save the turn signal lamps.” Whether this habit is due to thrifty drivers or just something Pittsburgh drivers have been accustomed to, this driving practice is something to keep in mind when driving the streets of Pittsburgh.

Poor Pittsburgh Driving Habits

While The Pittsburgh Left and The Pittsburgh Turn Signal are two customs that most likely originated many years ago as more and more cars came into the city, a report from April of 2017 revealed a few negative habits of Pittsburgh drivers.

EverQuote Inc., an online insurance marketplace, examined the driving habits of 150,000 drivers who used the company’s EverDrive cellphone app over the course of 11 months. During this time, 20 million trips were recorded by the app, which categorized rankings based on five driving activities: speeding, cellphone use, excess acceleration, hard braking, and hard turning.

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh drivers tied with New York City residents for the worst drivers in the country. Out of the five ranking categories, the app found that Pittsburgh drivers use their cell phones while driving and drive too fast. Specifically, the data revealed that drivers in Pennsylvania were found to be using their cell phones 37 percent of their driving time and speeding during 47 percent of their trips.

It may be tempting to watch the Pens playoff game during your bumper to bumper drive home on the Parkway, but to ditch the poor reputation and start driving more safely, Pittsburgh drivers will need to put down their cell phones.

In summary

It’s easy to see that Pittsburgh drivers do many unique things during their commutes that other drivers don’t. If you aren’t a Pittsburgh native, being aware of these driving characteristics can make travelling through the City of Bridges more pleasant and less stressful. And it can help prevent some of the road rage you may feel when you are faced with an unexpected Pittsburgh Left. You can’t say we never warned you!

According to emarketer.com, a 2015 survey conducted by Research Now found that 49 percent of US residents with smartphones use between six and ten different apps each week. While the survey didn’t share which specific apps were most popular among smartphone users, a more recent statistic from March 2017 revealed that some of the most popular app categories are games, business, lifestyle, utilities, and travel.

At Gridwise, we understand that while using multiple resourceful apps as a rideshare driver is necessary, it can also be a pain in the you know what. Switching between different apps, such as Uber, Lyft, and navigation apps, can lead to a lot of wasted time. And as a rideshare driver you know that wasted time can mean missed opportunities to earn money. Which is why Gridwise created the Driver Taskbar feature. This feature improves your efficiency, minimizes distractions, and increases profitability. So how do you start using Gridwise Driver Taskbar to your advantage?

The Driver Taskbar will improve your efficiency

As app-based ride sharing becomes the norm in the ride hailing economy, making a career out of driving for a rideshare service can be a great source of income. If you do it right, that is.

Most successful rideshare drivers know that driving for more than one service provider can help to maximize profits. However, time can be wasted trying to bounce between all the different apps for rideshare services as well as the apps for navigation.

That’s where the Gridwise Driver Taskbar feature is extremely beneficial. This feature allows you to experience the convenience of using just one app while still working for the various rideshare service providers. With a simple tap of a finger you can bounce back and forth between different driver tools like navigation, driver services, and the rideshare apps themselves.

Cutting the time typically wasted bouncing between different services improves your efficiency by bundling individual apps into just the one.

The Driver Taskbar will help to minimize distractions

Let’s face it, the platforms for rideshare services are not designed with drivers in mind. Distractions come in many forms: communicating with potential riders while simultaneously checking navigation to see which turn to make next, then switching apps to search for your next rider is just one of the many multitasking scenarios that drivers face everyday.

When you download the Gridwise app, you’ll instantly see that the Driver Taskbar feature helps to minimize distractions. Instead of bouncing back and forth between apps while attempting to follow the navigation to your next pickup, a single tap on the Driver Taskbar takes you to what you need at the moment.

By minimizing distractions, your riders will be happy to see that safety is your top priority. Happy passengers means higher driver ratings which ultimately increases your likelihood of getting new passengers in the future. When you don’t have anyone in the car, however, fewer distractions means more focused time to find potential riders, thus helping you to make more money!

The Driver Taskbar will help you to be more profitable

In order to be more profitable as a rideshare driver, you need to have a strategy in place. Daily driving strategies vary based on location and time of day, but staying organized, efficient, and on track is an essential ongoing strategy for any profitable business.

Real-time Alerts, Events and Endtime Updates, and Airport Demand Data features will help you craft your specific day-to-day strategy. It’s the Gridwise Driver Taskbar feature that will help you to perfect your overall strategy, however.

For example, let’s say you already drive for Uber but want to also start driving for Lyft so you can increase your earnings. The Driver Taskbar enables you to use both of these rideshare services in one app. Therefore, as you expand your reach by working for multiple rideshare services, the Gridwise Driver Taskbar can keep all of your important information organized in one place. Simplicity combined with efficiency helps you to be more profitable!

Download the Gridwise app to start using the Gridwise Driver Taskbar feature to your advantage today!

As a rideshare driver, understanding the ins and outs of DC sports stadiums and arenas can help you to capitalize on surge pricing and ultimately bring in more money at the end of the day.

While the large DC venues like FedEx Field, Nationals Park, RFK Stadium, and the Verizon Center that host thousands of people may seem like an easy way to find passengers, big events can often be an enigma for many rideshare drivers. See, with major events like concerts or a Washington Redskins game, The Rideshare Guy explains that it can become difficult to locate passengers as thousands of people drunkenly attempt to locate their drivers.

What’s even more frustrating for rideshare drivers is the number of potential customers that will request a driver from the middle of the Verizon Center, for example. The Wizards just claimed victory and in all of the excitement, people will request a driver right then and there. Of course, they expect you to predict where they will exit from the venue and to arrive there promptly in order to escort them to the after party. Plus, with all of the other drivers hoping to profit from the crowds at DC sports stadiums and arenas, there’s bound to be traffic. Quite honestly, this can all lead to a headache if you don’t have the right strategy in place.

To make driving passengers to and from DC sports stadiums and arenas less of a headache and more profitable, we’ve outlined some simple tips you can follow during your next drive:

1. Take advantage of tailgating and pre-game functions that will start a few hours before the game.Redskins fans, along with most other sports fans, enjoy a cold beer and good barbecue to kick off their game day. During the pregame hours, rides will originate from a wider area with people trying to get closer to the game. Many potential clients will be coming from house parties, bars, hotels, and popular areas. Even though the demand is more spread out, you can still use this time to make some extra money.
2. Use the Gridwise app to receive real-time alerts on game updates and end times.Upon downloading the Gridwise app, you’ll be able to easily navigate the Events and End time Updates feature in the bottom menu of the app. This feature lists all local events along with their start/end times and a status that tells you if the event is in progress. Plus, this feature can notify you if a game goes into overtime, for example, giving you the opportunity to squeeze in a few extra rides before heading to the stadium or arena. By monitoring this list, you can be ready at the pickup spot before the event actually ends.
3. Determine if your service has designated pickup locations.Another aspect of being ready to pick up your passengers outside DC sports stadiums and arenas is to determine if your service has designated pickup locations. Uber offers tips for drivers on how to beat the traffic at popular DC venues, including the Verizon Center, FedEx Field, and Nationals Park. For example, since Uber has partnered with the Washington Redskins to make it easy to catch a ride to and from games at FedExField, there are specific locations called Uber Zones for all dropoffs and pickups to occur. This makes it easier for both the driver and the rider because the areas are clearly marked and easy to locate. Similarly, Uber has suggested pickup points for the Verizon Center and Nationals Park.
4. Call your passengers to coordinate your exit strategy.It is not recommended to wait at the entrance before the event ends. While you will benefit from the surge priced trip, you may become trapped by the flood of pedestrians exiting the event. Try to park a few blocks away in an area where you will still get a request from the stadium or arena, but where you can avoid much of the traffic. Then, once you have arrived at your pickup position, call your client to coordinate your exit strategy. This is crucial because people will often make a request and then start walking away from the event, which can lead to confusion. By calling your potential passengers, you can figure out their current location and coordinate the best place for pickup.

Along with implementing these tips for your drives to and from DC sports stadiums and arenas, it’s always important to remain calm, patient, and flexible amidst the chaos of these large events. You’ll most likely have to deal with passengers that have been drinking, which can make communication a challenge. Try to be patient and remember that if a ride falls through there will still be a plethora of other riders exiting the game and searching for a driver.

Plus, by using the Gridwise platform you can have an edge over the competition by staying updated on the game’s end time along with real-time traffic and weather alerts.

Download the Gridwise app to get ready for gameday and start making your drives to and from DC sports stadiums and arenas more profitable!

As rideshare increases in popularity around the globe, more and more people are getting involved as drivers. Those folks who meet the rideshare driving qualifications can get started pretty quickly. Due to the low barriers to entry, many different types of people decide to take on this line of work. Drivers start working with Uber, Lyft, Curb, Via etc. from any and all possible backgrounds.

Each rideshare driver exhibits a persona that reflects their level of experience and the scope of their work. These aren’t exclusive in any way, but for the most part rideshare drivers typically fall into one of these 4 categories:

Know-It-All

You might think that being a know-it-all is associated with being annoying or bothersome in some way. But in this case, the know-it-alls are the people who are literally the most knowledgeable. These are the rideshare drivers who have spent a significant amount of time as a professional driver.

Most are veteran drivers who have spent 3 years or more driving professionally before moving into working rideshare. Former taxi drivers also fit into this rideshare description if they’ve switched over to driving for Uber/Lyft/other TNCs. These drivers are efficient and completely capable when seeking the information they need to make a drive.

For some professional drivers, this became a chance for a brand new start. There are options now for people who are trying to breach the ridesharing industry, and further opportunities for those who are experienced and have their CDL. Those ex-taxi drivers who choose to venture into the world of rideshare come in already fully prepared with all of the tools. They are disciplined in their approach to driving and are essentially experts in their craft.

In Transition

Not all full-time drivers are created equal. While there are a number of drivers who chose this life from the get go, many come to it from another career. These people might have gone through a rough patch in their career and need a reset. Others were simply tired of the work they were doing before and looking for a fresh opportunity or change of pace.

Either way, the rideshare industry has full-on created an avenue for the people who come into driving from doing something else. These newly minted Uber and Lyft partners see driving as an opportunity to start their own business. The amount they earn is entirely up to them as a rideshare contractor, so they end up working as many or as few hours as they need. To earn a living from it, full-time drivers (including in transition drivers) typically drive over 40 hours a week.

Supplemental

When their main gig isn’t enough to keep them afloat financially, people seek out other means to bring in extra cash. Or, if they’re looking for a bit of spending cash or travel money, driving for a rideshare TNC could be an attractive option. Outside their regular work hours, folks take the free time they would have had and turn it into money by driving. They may be creative types relying on freelance work to satisfy their creative thirst, while others might work at a restaurant/bar or another nighttime establishment. Extra income from driving is just as viable an option as any other.

Rideshare drivers seeking supplemental income are in the business either because they need to be or because they like the freedoms that come with supplemental income earned at their own pace. There will always be folks who truly enjoy the work, but often, driving is just a means to an end. That’s nobody’s fault; the need for a sustainable income is universal. Everyone has something that they need to support, whether it’s a family, a dog or a lifestyle.

Part-time drivers may work in the rideshare industry because they need the flexibility. Freelancers, entrepreneurs, and all sorts of creatives work best without a stringent 9-5 sort of job. In this way, setting a personally-optimized schedule for supplemental income allows people to do things they couldn’t otherwise accomplish in restricted time frames.

Pin Money

These people don’t really need the money. They work as a rideshare driver to make pocket change and have a little extra cash flow. They may drive a few hours each week whenever they decide to make the time. Since their livelihood isn’t affected by how much they drive, pin money rideshare drivers work without real obligations and may not project any sense of urgency.

Reliability is not the mantra with pin money drivers. They tend to be fickle, changing their level of commitment based on whether they feel a “need” for the money at the moment. For these part-time drivers, their freedom to decide when and where to drive is more important than having a set schedule.There’s also some element of preparation that you tend to miss with these Uber and Lyft drivers. Since this income is disposable to the driver, the work they do requires less strategy and considerably less effort (as is the nature of a side job).

Which one of these categories do you fall under? Let us know in the comments below!

Rideshare services and companies hold Pittsburgh to a certain standard. Uber chose this city to become the flagship for testing its innovative self-driving car, and even poached a number of Carnegie Mellon University robotics PhD students to work for Uber. With the industry frontrunners taking an invested interest in the city, Pittsburgh is a key location for professional and casual drivers seeking work.

As the rideshare driver population continues to increase and new innovations appear, it’s more important than ever that regulations follow suit. Many of the same rules and issues from other cities also apply to drivers in Pittsburgh.

Basic Vehicle Requirements in Pittsburgh

The vehicle requirements vary only slightly between the two major services Uber and Lyft, with the majority of the difference being the required age for your rideshare car. The vehicle age could also vary according to the city you’re working in. For Pittsburgh:

Uber

Lyft

zTrip

Model Year 2006 or Newer (hybrids 2004 or newer)Model Year 2007 or NewerVehicle is Provided4-door car or minivan4-door car, 5-8 seats (including driver)Taxicab or 4-door black sedanGood condition with no cosmetic damage Vehicle maintenance includedPass vehicle inspectionPass DMV check and background checkPass DMV check and background checkDriver’s License Required (>21 years old)Driver’s License Required (>21 years old)Driver’s License Required (>21 years old)Current official (or temporary) registrationCurrent official (or temporary) registrationCurrent official (or temporary) registrationState/locally-accepted vehicle insuranceState/locally-accepted vehicle insuranceState/locally-accepted vehicle insuranceNo commercial branding  

Legislative Regulations (according to the Public Vehicle-for-hire Innovation Act)

For a time, both Lyft and Uber were deemed illegal by the state of Pennsylvania and asked to pay fines as reparations. In an ongoing fight to remedy this, Uber and Lyft operate under a two-year experimental license agreement granted by the Public Utility Commission. For current legislation (from PIT rules in the above Innovation Act):

Disclaimer – this is not a comprehensive list of rules and regulations, but is an aggregate created for simplicity and is subject to change in the upcoming years.

• Privately owned vehicles may be used for public transportation, so long as the drivers are notified electronically or through an app.
• Along the same lines, rideshare drivers may not pick up passengers that hail them from the street.
• Rideshare drivers with companies such as Uber and Lyft may not solicit fares at taxi stands specified for Pittsburgh taxi services.
• If there is suspicion of illegal street hailing, the rideshare operator must provide law enforcement with access to their electronic trip records.
• Background checks and minimal levels of insurance are required for all drivers before they begin driving for the TNC (transportation network company).
• Companies must provide passengers with photographic access of the vehicle driver and the vehicle license plate before pickup.
• Drivers must successfully pass a criminal background check, sex offender database check, and driver history check.
• App-based services must provide primary insurance coverage of minimum $50,000 per person per accident, with up to $100,000 available to all and $25,000 available for property damage
• A private rideshare vehicle operator may affiliate with more than one rideshare service (unless specified by the company)

PIT (Pittsburgh International Airport) Regulations

As a rideshare driver in Pittsburgh, you’re likely going to make a few trips to and from the airport (unless you specifically choose to avoid these rides). So that you don’t make any mistakes or jeopardize the integrity of the ride, here’s a combined set of rules described by both Uber and Lyft:

• All ride pickups happen at the specified “Uber Loading Zone.” Without halting or disrupting any traffic, head toward Door 4 of the commercial curb to the designated area. Be courteous and pull up to the furthest available space to allow other drivers the opportunity for easy access to a space.
• To wait for a ride, you must do so in the designated Cell Phone Lot staging area. If the lot is full, then you can’t wait around and need to leave the property. Note also that parking is only free for an hour, so adjust your driver schedule accordingly.
• Drivers are required to display the TNC trade dress on the passenger side of your windshield
• Rider cancellations do not affect your place in line through Lyft. Driver cancellations, however, take you off of the queue and back to the end of the line. The Same rule applies for leaving the airport property, missing a passenger request, or going offline on the app.
• The queue works on a first come first served basis. The driver who has been in line the longest is also the one who will be given the next available ride.