For some mother and father, getting kids to and from school is a battle. That’s led to some resorting to ride-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft. But one native driver warns it’s towards firm coverage, which means drivers can flip down requests.Anthony Kellen drives for each Uber and Lyft. He will get trip requests for quite a lot of locations. But currently, he mentioned it has been requests for kids to get rides to school.”It probably averages about once a day,” Kellen mentioned.For each Uber and Lyft, giving rides to unaccompanied minors is towards the principles, one thing Kellen mentioned mother and father usually do not understand when he rejects their request.”You get there in the morning and then parents are complaining ‘Well I’ve never had a problem before,'” Kellen mentioned. “I’m like ‘Well, somebody probably just doesn’t want to deal with the hassle of what it takes to say ‘no.'”Sharnelle Shelton admits she’s used rideshares to get her 16-year-old son to sports activities follow for the final two years.”He’s never ever felt unsafe,” she mentioned.Safety can turn into a difficulty whether or not it is about who’s behind the wheel or who is admittedly making the request.In 2019, KETV NewsWatch 7 reported on a Bellevue man who was accused of utilizing a ride-hailing app as a predatory software. Nicholas Avery ordered an underage lady a trip from Kansas to Bellevue, a visit that final a whole bunch of miles and resulted in sexual assault.When drivers arrive to discover their trip is a teen or little one, it will probably put them in a tough spot. “I’m pretty sure one of the kids one time was like 6, it’s where it becomes the biggest issue, you know,” Kellen mentioned. KETV NewsWatch 7 Investigates reached out to each Uber and Lyft. Uber factors to its group tips that say anybody beneath 18 should be accompanied by an grownup. Drivers are requested to report conditions to Uber’s 24/7 group when a rider could also be underage. Drivers are additionally suggested to ask for ID and decline the journey if the rider seems underage.It’s the same coverage for Lyft, which states “unaccompanied minors are prohibited from traveling with most carriers,” and says drivers might ask the passenger to affirm their age.Shelton says generally, she simply did not have an alternative choice. She factors to lack of transportation, like when her son attended Creighton Prep. “Bus is not an option in my area, so I don’t have the option to bus him at all,” Shelton mentioned.Shelton mentioned she wasn’t conscious that transporting individuals beneath 18 was towards the principles. But it is one thing she thinks ought to change.”I do think there’s a lot of opportunity for Lyft or Uber to specialize in offering safety and take the time to market that they can offer safe rides for children,” Shelton mentioned. As for Kellen, he understands why mother and father resort to rideshare apps. “Terms and conditions get ignored a lot. So, I get it,” he mentioned.But Kellen mentioned he simply needs to be sure that extra mother and father perceive the principles, hopefully stopping these awkward interactions in the event that they get turned down for a trip.
For some mother and father, getting kids to and from school is a battle. That’s led to some resorting to ride-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft. But one native driver warns it’s towards firm coverage, which means drivers can flip down requests.
Anthony Kellen drives for each Uber and Lyft. He will get trip requests for quite a lot of locations. But currently, he mentioned it has been requests for kids to get rides to school.
“It probably averages about once a day,” Kellen mentioned.
For each Uber and Lyft, giving rides to unaccompanied minors is towards the principles, one thing Kellen mentioned mother and father usually do not understand when he rejects their request.
“You get there in the morning and then parents are complaining ‘Well I’ve never had a problem before,'” Kellen mentioned. “I’m like ‘Well, somebody probably just doesn’t want to deal with the hassle of what it takes to say ‘no.'”
Sharnelle Shelton admits she’s used rideshares to get her 16-year-old son to sports activities follow for the final two years.
“He’s never ever felt unsafe,” she mentioned.
Safety can turn into a difficulty whether or not it is about who’s behind the wheel or who is admittedly making the request.
In 2019, KETV NewsWatch 7 reported on a Bellevue man who was accused of utilizing a ride-hailing app as a predatory software. Nicholas Avery ordered an underage lady a trip from Kansas to Bellevue, a visit that final a whole bunch of miles and resulted in sexual assault.
When drivers arrive to discover their trip is a teen or little one, it will probably put them in a tough spot.
“I’m pretty sure one of the kids one time was like 6, it’s where it becomes the biggest issue, you know,” Kellen mentioned.
KETV NewsWatch 7 Investigates reached out to each Uber and Lyft. Uber factors to its group tips that say anybody beneath 18 should be accompanied by an grownup. Drivers are requested to report conditions to Uber’s 24/7 group when a rider could also be underage. Drivers are additionally suggested to ask for ID and decline the journey if the rider seems underage.
It’s the same coverage for Lyft, which states “unaccompanied minors are prohibited from traveling with most carriers,” and says drivers might ask the passenger to affirm their age.
Shelton says generally, she simply did not have an alternative choice. She factors to lack of transportation, like when her son attended Creighton Prep.
“Bus is not an option in my area, so I don’t have the option to bus him at all,” Shelton mentioned.
Shelton mentioned she wasn’t conscious that transporting individuals beneath 18 was towards the principles. But it is one thing she thinks ought to change.
“I do think there’s a lot of opportunity for Lyft or Uber to specialize in offering safety and take the time to market that they can offer safe rides for children,” Shelton mentioned.
As for Kellen, he understands why mother and father resort to rideshare apps.
“Terms and conditions get ignored a lot. So, I get it,” he mentioned.
But Kellen mentioned he simply needs to be sure that extra mother and father perceive the principles, hopefully stopping these awkward interactions in the event that they get turned down for a trip.