- Mhay-Ann Carriza De Felipe, 29, started driving part-time for Uber and Lyft in Las Vegas in 2021.
- She says she would not really feel unsafe however does encounter drunk males who proposition her.
- This is her story, as advised to author Jenny Powers.
This as-told-to essay is predicated on a dialog with Mhay-Ann Carriza De Felipe, a 29-year-old Uber and Lyft driver in Las Vegas. Insider has verified her earnings and employment with documentation. The following has been edited for size and readability.
Last 12 months, I started driving part-time for Uber and Lyft as a approach to assist repay medical payments and usher in some additional money to cowl fundamental requirements like groceries to feed our household of 4.
Since then, I’ve pushed about 20,000 miles, executed greater than 2,200 rides, and earned greater than $50,000.
Prior to the pandemic, I’d store at designer retailers like Coach and Michael Kors and then resell the merchandise at a markup on-line, however when my gross sales began to undergo, I knew it was time to discover a extra profitable different. That’s when I turned to rideshare driving.
I drove part-time at first, normally working 3 days per week for between 8 and 12 hours a day
Courtesy of Mhay-Ann Carriza De Felipe
Due to COVID-19, my sons, now 5 and 9 years outdated, have been in distant college. My husband, who labored for a transportation firm, was working from residence, so it was straightforward for me to drive throughout college hours and on my husband’s days off.
Three months into doing rideshare, after incomes as a lot as $500 in a day, I noticed the potential and started driving full-time. For a mother like me, it is an awesome job as a result of I’m capable of set my very own hours and work when it is best for my household’s schedule.
I can flip off the app every time I need and spend time with my household and not using a boss or coworkers pressuring me to remain late or work extra, and having that sort of comfort and flexibility is my favourite a part of the job.
These days, my least favourite a part of my job is the elevated gasoline costs that have an effect on my earnings
According to AAA, gasoline costs in Las Vegas are actually greater than $5 per gallon, which is greater than the nationwide common.
I have a 5-star ranking, so based mostly on that and my low cancelation charges, I’ve achieved Uber Platinum standing — a stage that unlocks quite a lot of advantages, together with a complimentary annual Costco membership. I attempt to replenish my tank on discounted gasoline there as usually as I can.
We used to personal a Honda Fit and a Chrysler van, and I would take turns driving them each.
The greater the automobile, the upper the speed, so I might earn extra driving the van by Uber XL. But in January we offered the van at my husband’s advice. Just final month we went electrical, changing it with a Tesla Model Y to save lots of on gasoline.
People usually ask me if as a lady I really feel secure doing this sort of work, particularly since I usually drive at evening
This March marked one 12 months that I’ve been rideshare driving full-time, and the reality is, I do really feel secure — even driving up till 2 a.m.
As far as automobile security, each automobiles are outfitted with dual-facing dashcams. That means one digital camera faces contained in the automobile whereas the opposite faces the highway.
As for private security, my husband purchased me pepper spray and an electrical shock taser. I’m ready to defend myself ought to the necessity come up, however fortunately it hasn’t.
In addition to those security units, as soon as I activate the Uber app and start driving, my location will be shared with household and associates by the “Follow My Ride” function. They’re then capable of monitor my whereabouts always. My husband, who died in a current motorbike crash, all the time preferred the truth that wherever I was on the market driving, he might look at his telephone and know the place I was and that I was secure.
While I’ve by no means feared for my very own security, I’ve actually had my share of awkward conditions
Driving late at evening in Vegas just about ensures ultimately, you will choose up a drunk man.
Some guys will flirt and ask for my quantity. Others ask if I wish to hook up with them. The extra aggressive varieties will provide me cash to go as much as their resort room with them.
I all the time decline and then I give them three decisions: I can drop them off at their resort, depart them stranded within the center highway, or drive them on to the police station.
That’s when I hear them begin to squirm within the again seat as they mull over their decisions. They normally let loose a nervous snicker and apologize earlier than selecting the primary possibility.
After that, they continue to be quiet the remainder of the trip. Right earlier than they get out of the automobile, they usually apologize once more and tip me in money.
One time, my passenger was a drunk rapper who saved insisting I discover his track on Spotify
He needed me to blast it on repeat whereas he sang within the again seat on the high of his lungs.
In between singing, he’d proposition me. I politely declined and gave him my customary three choices. Like all the opposite guys earlier than him, he selected to be dropped off at his resort and then shut up.
The subsequent day I received a message that he left his pockets stuffed with money in my automobile.
I had the sensation it was only a ploy to see me once more, so I took a video of me retrieving the pockets from the again seat. I opened it to disclose its empty contents with my mother-in-law alongside me as my witness.
Then I drove to satisfy him and return his empty pockets. I remained inside my automobile and handed it over, telling him he’d in all probability spent or misplaced the money within the bar that I’d picked him up from the evening earlier than.
He apologized for his conduct and tipped me $20. I thanked him and warned him to not strive that kind of stuff with different ladies drivers as a result of subsequent time he won’t be so fortunate and they’d name 9-1-1 on him.
Since my husband was killed in a crash whereas driving his motorbike not too long ago, I can not share my location with him when I get within the automobile and activate my Uber app. I pray he is nonetheless searching for me and defending me from up above as I proceed to drive and care for our two boys.
Are you a present or former rideshare driver and have a narrative to inform? Email akalish@insider.com.