Uber and Lyft drivers unhappy with their earnings and hours behind the wheel have protested recently, but now there’s a new problem – drivers are having trouble affording the expensive car leases offered by the ride-hailing companies. Drivers for ride-hailing firms such as Lyft have protested loudly in about four years , as the price war between the firms heats up, meaning drivers are seeing their fares slashed. However, a new problem is now emerging as a result of the reduction in driver income: they can no longer afford to run their cars. A Uber and Lyft driver identified only as Kelsey states: “We have had five rate cuts since I started driving…Right now it’s just not economically viable anymore.” Kelsey is referring to the $ just under $650 per month he needs to pay for his leased Prius , which was affordable when he first started driving for Lyft , but after 5 fare cuts, he can no longer afford the payments.
Drivers for ride-hailing firms such as Lyft have protested loudly in about four years , as the price war between the firms heats up, meaning drivers are seeing their fares slashed. However, a new problem is now emerging as a result of the reduction in driver income: they can no longer afford to run their cars. A Uber and Lyft driver identified only as Kelsey states: “We have had five rate cuts since I started driving…Right now it’s just not economically viable anymore.” Kelsey is referring to the $ just under $650 per month he needs to pay for his leased Prius , which was affordable when he first started driving for Lyft , but after 5 fare cuts, he can no longer afford the payments.