Not EVEN going to get started with Cali (and Mayor Pete’s) proposals to kill off the gig economy. Y’all know I’m a supporter, so there’s that. This is my “busy season.” I have another gig from mid-August through Memorial Day but in the summer I drive. Quite a bit. In June I managed to crack my nut on five days work (from 8 or 9am until 3 or 4p,. then back out around 6 or 7, drive until target hit but NEVER past midnight, usually knocking off by 9.) The first three weeks of July were a struggle. Lost of nights I was out until 11 or 12 and I was driving every day. But THIS week the pendulum swung back and hopefully will stay put for another 3-4 weeks.

After a month or so many passengers name begin to look like a bad Scrabble rack.

Be prepared for OOO: Outrageous Olfactory Onslaught. Bathing in aftershave, or lotion, or hairspray. Or perhaps simply b.o. Or kitchen odors. Believe me, I’ve REEKED of that kitchen smell. I know it WELL.

Request ride. Get in car. Take ride. It’s simple. Actually had a woman stand five feet from my car (the ONLY one in the lot) and call, telling me she didn’t see me. Had another passenger stand outside my car for over four minutes talking on the phone. It’s just RUDE. Get in!! Talk while I drive. I’m good with that. But if I ain’t movin’ I ain’t makin’ money.

Pickup addresses will be wrong (about 5% in Uber, 65% in Lyft.) A lot of this stems from the limitations of GPS. Many addresses in apartment complexes all link to the main entrance or leasing office. Many other large properties (malls, churchs, schools, warehouses) all link to one corner of the property. That “point” will then give you directions to the nearest road, which may NOT be the proper entrance.These are all GPS “errors” and inherent in any developing system. But the USER errors? As Keb Mo sings, that’s a WHOLE nutha thing. I can’t read your mind. I don’t know that 3100 N High is a typo for 1300 N High. Or the E means W. Had a “passenger” send me to his place of employment instead of the restaurant where he had dined – 10 miles away. Check the app after your request to make sure you’ve entered (and it recognizes) the right location. If not – FIX IT! Correct the typo. Or move the pin. Yes, you can do that! Use your opposable thumbs.

Enjoy the rest of your summer. I know I will!