Whether you are a daily commuter or are just trying to get around town, you have likely felt the recent increase in gas prices hit your wallet. You’re not alone. On average, gas prices have risen more than 30 percent in New York. Long Island drivers have seen some of the highest prices in New York.
Many folks are opting for public transit or rideshare apps to avoid this sticker shock. However, the app drivers traveling back and forth to the city every day for work have no choice but to face the pain of sky-high gas prices. I would know. I’m proud to have been a driver with Uber for five years, but every driver I meet says the same thing: “It’s not what it used to be.”
This spike in gas prices has validated what I already knew: Long Island-based rideshare drivers have a tough time making a living. We spend more time commuting and rack up more weekly mileage than drivers in New York City, which means more fill-ups. The other truth this crisis makes clear? App companies can’t keep pushing the rising costs of doing business onto drivers and customers, all while continuing to take high commissions on our fares.
While the demand for Uber and Lyft rides has soared, our paychecks are getting smaller. People are returning to in-person work, school, and appointments, which has increased my rides. There has been such a sudden uptick in requests that Uber boosted its prospective earnings for this quarter. This means I’m busier. But with gas prices as they are, I’m barely breaking even. Recently, I took a trip to the airport that ended up being only $39 for two hours of work. After expenses are taken out from that, the only one coming out on top is Uber!
Right now, gas on Long Island costs about $4.35 a gallon. When I’m not in bumper-to-bumper traffic on I-495 or waiting for a passenger, my Toyota Camry gets about 26 miles per gallon. It adds up. Filling up twice a week totals over $75 on gas alone, cutting into my take-home pay. I used to pay half that on gas, on top of making more per ride.
Gas prices have also put new work demands on Long Island rideshare drivers. We cannot afford to go out of the way a few miles to find an accessible bathroom or grab a bite to eat. We’re constantly worried about being ticketed or towed if we turn off our cars while idling to save on gas. Gas prices have even impacted which trips I accept or how far I’m willing to travel. I can’t decline too many trips, though, or I risk getting deactivated from the app without warning. It’s a lose-lose situation.
Rideshare drivers and delivery workers across New York share these mounting concerns and have had enough. Over 100,000 of us, including hundreds of us from LI, are united in our demands to transform our industry. We’re focused on alleviating financial pressures for app workers and fighting for dignity at work, including living wages, caps on the app companies’ commissions, and compensation for necessary out-of-pocket expenses. Like TLC drivers in NYC, Long Island rideshare drivers deserve a raise – one that will actually make a dent in offsetting rising costs. We’re also asking for increased safety features, more bathroom accessibility on the road, and due process in app deactivation cases. And we want the right to collectively bargain for wages, benefits, and working conditions.
Some might say that the app companies are already doing their part, but it’s all smoke and mirrors. Uber and Lyft have added a rider surcharge of 45 to 55 cents to each trip in response to driver outcry around soaring gas prices. Not only are the companies pushing rising costs onto customers instead of reducing their own high commissions, but they’re also providing little relief to drivers, especially those making long trips. The surcharge is a flat rate, whether the ride goes three blocks or 30 miles. A gas surcharge isn’t even sustainable for part-time drivers like myself. Drivers completing only 30-40 rides a week are slated to end up with a $25 payback. That’s not a half-tank for most cars. On top of that, trips that start in NYC or any deliveries made to the city are excluded from the surcharge.
Drivers aren’t naive: we know that the app platforms’ business models were created for corporations to reap millions of dollars in yearly profits – so it’s in their interest to force drivers to absorb as much of the costs as possible. Concrete changes towards improving our earnings, safety, and workplace protections will only happen if app workers speak up and stop letting the companies get away with the status quo.
Unfortunately, experts are saying that it’s unclear as to when these outrageous gas prices will improve for drivers. And in speaking with other drivers, feeling stressed, getting burnt out, or dipping into savings are all lingering worries. Some drivers are quitting, but others, like me, are committed to changing this industry for the better. The pandemic has proven that we are critical in connecting and protecting our neighbors. Now we deserve security and protections, too. It’s all the more reason for us to band together so we can make a sustainable living and continue supporting our communities.
If you’re a rideshare driver and live on Long Island, I encourage you to join us. Learn more at JusticeForAppWorkers.org.
John Forgione
Belport
John Forgione has been an Uber driver for five years. He is a member of the Long Island Uber and Lyft Network and Justice for App Workers. Forgione has lived in Bellport, Long Island for 36 years.
