"At 7:07 am, a ride request came in for a trip to LAX that the app promised would earn Avedian between $9 and $12. He declined it. Another request, again for the airport, for $13 to $17. He declined. Another request, a short, $3 to $4 trip within Santa Monica. Nope. It went on like this, with Avedian lingering in the parking lot, sipping his coffee, and declining requests from Uber riders as he waited for something he considered worth his time."
"But in January, in response to a new state law, Uber changed the workings of its driver app in the Golden State, affecting some 395,000 drivers. Drivers can now see where a rider wants to go and an estimated payout before they accept. They are, theoretically, not punished by the Uber algorithm for rejecting too many rides. (Though starting last week, Uber began sending fewer requests to those who reject or cancel the vast majority of their ride requests.)"
""I'll just sit down and cherry-pick," says Avedian. "I'm doing fewer rides and making more.""
A new California law prompted Uber to alter its driver app in January, affecting about 395,000 drivers. Drivers now see each rider's destination and an estimated payout before accepting a ride. Uber restructured driver bonuses and began experimenting at several California airports with allowing drivers to choose their own fares. Drivers can decline low-paying or distant trips without immediate algorithmic penalties, though Uber has started sending fewer requests to those who reject or cancel most offers. Some drivers are waiting and selectively accepting longer, higher-paying trips, completing fewer rides while increasing per-ride earnings. One driver waited thirty minutes to secure a 15-mile trip that paid $76.68 after the rider's fare.
Read at WIRED
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