I have used Lyft probably close to 25 times (Is there a place I can see my ride history other than CC statements?) and only used Uber once so I won't try to compare the two but I will say this about Lyft:
Lyft was the first ride-share program to come to my city and I was a little disappointed as I had spent over a year hearing about how awesome Uber was. This feeling quickly disappeared after my first Lyft ride. It was so completely different than any taxi ride I had ever taken that I was taken aback. The whole process was super smooth and it really does feel like getting a ride from a friend. One of the parts I hated most about taxi's was paying at the end because they don't take CC's where I live (or if they do they hide the CC terminals) and so I always had to pay in cash and would often over tip (by rounding up to the nearest bill I had) just to get the ride over with faster. With Lyft I find myself wanting the ride to keep going and I genuinely enjoy talking to every Lyft driver I have ever had. I don't think I have ever had a conversation with a taxi driver that wasn't forced or awkward.
I get that a lot of people don't drive for Lyft as their main job (as do taxi drivers) and so it may be easier for them to be talkative and upbeat but it really does make all the difference. I gush about how much I love Lyft to all my friends and now they all use it and similarly love it. Everytime Lyft comes up in conversation everyone will talk about how great it is and how they love to use it.
Uber is now in my city but as I said I only used it once and I won't even begin to try to compare the experiences because the data set is way too small (hell, 25 rides with Lyft is probably too small as well). But from what I have seen from the outside looking in it's much more "professional" (I don't say that as a good thing) and buttoned up. I love how laid back Lyft drivers are and after reading this blog post it appears that Lyft as a company is this way as well. I wish Lyft the best of luck and will always try to get a Lyft driver before I fall back on Uber.
I find this really interesting. I prefer Uber at-least in LA. I have used both Uber and Lyft pretty consistently in the last year. My problem with lyft has been my extreme experiences that come at the expense of "being a friend". I have had rides from LAX with drivers asking me very private information like my religious beliefs. There was another guy who was talking about his relationships and hinting at his sex life. It was bizarre and funny in the way he said that he does not like to talk but lyft emphasizes on this social experience (and in my head I was like, dude please shut up.. i wont mind) I am sure these incidents can happen with Uber but so far I have never been creeped out even if I thought the drivers were rude or even reckless etc.
With lyft, I tend to sit on the passengers side; which kind of increases my sense of dread when I get weird drivers.
I hear this quite frequently on how awesome it is that Lyft emphasizes this social experience. But in my personal experience it has a (slight?) downside.
That is interesting. I would bet that Uber/Lyft are not homogenous across the US (or other other countries for that matter) but it may also come down to the fact that I am normally very open even with strangers. I feel awkward when there is silence and I won't fill it with awkward talking but I still don't like it. This is one of the big reasons I don't like taxis, I don't know how best to explain it but I guess the best way is I feel like I'm being rude if I just get in the car, tell them where I want to go, then stay silent the whole ride. I may be alone, or in the minority, for this but yeah... I also love to talk so that's why I quite like the Lyft friendly, sit-in-the-front-seat experience.
Thanks for chiming in with your experience! I'd like to hear what other people have to say about this as well.
Lyft was the first ride-share program to come to my city and I was a little disappointed as I had spent over a year hearing about how awesome Uber was. This feeling quickly disappeared after my first Lyft ride. It was so completely different than any taxi ride I had ever taken that I was taken aback. The whole process was super smooth and it really does feel like getting a ride from a friend. One of the parts I hated most about taxi's was paying at the end because they don't take CC's where I live (or if they do they hide the CC terminals) and so I always had to pay in cash and would often over tip (by rounding up to the nearest bill I had) just to get the ride over with faster. With Lyft I find myself wanting the ride to keep going and I genuinely enjoy talking to every Lyft driver I have ever had. I don't think I have ever had a conversation with a taxi driver that wasn't forced or awkward.
I get that a lot of people don't drive for Lyft as their main job (as do taxi drivers) and so it may be easier for them to be talkative and upbeat but it really does make all the difference. I gush about how much I love Lyft to all my friends and now they all use it and similarly love it. Everytime Lyft comes up in conversation everyone will talk about how great it is and how they love to use it.
Uber is now in my city but as I said I only used it once and I won't even begin to try to compare the experiences because the data set is way too small (hell, 25 rides with Lyft is probably too small as well). But from what I have seen from the outside looking in it's much more "professional" (I don't say that as a good thing) and buttoned up. I love how laid back Lyft drivers are and after reading this blog post it appears that Lyft as a company is this way as well. I wish Lyft the best of luck and will always try to get a Lyft driver before I fall back on Uber.