“You can drive 10 hours straight without stopping”
(Illustration photo) UBER driver © Tim Douet
This May 1 in Lyon, public transport is at a standstill. So many residents have used Uber’s VTC platform to get around. Meeting with Abel*, driver.
“There is no waiting between races today“, explains Abel, Uber driver in Lyon. Like every year, public transport is at a standstill throughout the metropolis, on the occasion of Labor Day on May 1. So many residents use Uber’s VTC platform to get around.
Today Abel started at 8:30. “I had completely forgotten that it was May 1st, otherwise I would have started earlier“, he regrets. And for good reason, it’s a day “exceptional“For the driver, who sees customers pass by.
A job to “hold on”
Some, like him, were taken aback: “Those who are not from Lyon were very surprised and angry not to find transport this morning“. Abel says that they warmly thanked him. He believes that he is only doing his job.
A work”practice“which he started last July in parallel with his other job. A retraining”hold out“, chosen after the loss of his position as a technician during the Covid health crisis. But the driver does not endorse all the practices of the American platform.
“If I don’t stop, I will win €20”
“We can drive ten hours straight without stopping“, he explains, adding that many drivers do it for the sake of gain. After ten hours, the app crashes to force drivers to take a break of at least thirty minutes. again drive ten hours.
What Abel denounces is the “Uber system“which encourages drivers to work more and not take breaks to earn”prime“. Via the app, drivers can earn small amounts of money as a reward for several consecutive hours of work.”There, if I don’t stop, I’ll win twenty euros“, he describes, pointing to his screen.
A race for profitability
This race for profitability, the driver does not understand. Last Thursday, Uber added the option “Uber Pet“In its Lyon app. For an additional four euros, the passenger can travel with their pet.”I refuse to install this option, it’s absurd”, believes Abel, who has never refused anyone with an animal so far. “At this rate, soon Uber will ask us to weigh people’s luggage like at the airport“, he is offended.
For the time being, he will continue to be a driver for the platform. “As long as I earn my living, there is worse work“, he said, before accepting a new race.
*Name has been changed