On August 24, 2020, Lyft released a new feature for its drivers, called “Priority mode”. Lyft tested Priority Mode in a few markets.
Drivers in those markets received emails from Lyft explaining the feature and what it strived to achieve.
“Priority mode will give you access to ride requests over other drivers, which reduces the time between rides so you can earn more overall.”
The new feature, they said, is the company’s way of mitigating the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic to help flatten the curve among workers. However, riders believe this is a cut in the back and does not reduce or suppress the challenges that come with the pandemic.
How Priority Mode Works
The feature allows drivers to get access to more ride requests than usual. However, the offer does not come free, as Lyft explained. There is a 10% cut in your pay for every ride request. Using Priority Mode will mean a driver will make 90% of their regular income.
The feature is not available to all drivers at all times. If you’re eligible at some point, you will have the option to turn it on and start receiving requests faster than other drivers. And it is available only in Miami, Austin, and Toronto for now. However, the company hopes to expand to other markets in the future.
Every single driver in the stated regions will have access to a few priority hours per week. If it is not available when you log in, you check back later. Priority hours do not carry over week to week. For drivers, it’s either you use it or lose it.
The new priority mode is not available for every destination. Places like airports, for example, will not be permitted. Additionally, it is available to drivers who accept all forms of ride requests only and not those who have chosen or designated places.
Drivers Response To Priority Mode
Drivers on priority mode shared their views with CNET.
“I knew that this just was another way for the company to take more money from the drivers,” said Earla Phillips, who was one of Lyft’s earliest drivers in Toronto. “The first week I didn’t even bother turning it on.”
CNET reports that after she did, Phillips couldn’t spot any difference. However, what is notable is that when she turned priority mode off, she said she barely got any rides.
It didn’t take much digging to detect Lyft drivers hate this so-called feature after looking at Reddit.
“Another scam brought to you by Lyft,” reads one typical comment.
“I did priority mode this week which turned out to be shit,” notes yet another. “Took twice as many rides and double the hours to get the rental cost covered. Now I’m sitting here in a busy area and can’t get a ride.”
“I am also a driver in Austin and on Thursday night I hit priority mode and although my luck was a little better, I had the same luck with that indicator (busy here) and those “demand going up” icons. Chasing them did NOT lead to any rides. In fact one was down a “blocked to through traffic” street and there wasn’t any way to get to it (and then it disappeared). OP it’s like we’re rats in a maze to Lyft. Lyft tries different things with their app just to grab our attention and keep us online. I wouldn’t be shocked if there are some really nifty machine learning algorithms running that are learning what works to get each of us to stay online longer,” another driver laments.
Some Hopefuls
Yet, another driver suggested what to do to improve it.
“I like priority mode to the extent that it’s an additional tool in my toolbox, but I don’t want to be in priority mode 100% of the time. The real kick would be putting me on priority mode and not changing the rate,” says Oscar Silver, a part-time Lyft driver in Miami.
New Feature, Old Outcome
This sentiment among drivers isn’t new. New features developed by gig economy brands always come with the promise of more earnings for drivers. But the reality is most drivers earn less, and brands pocket more profit off each driver.
Lyft has been making moves during the COVID-19 pandemic to stabilize its business. One such move is entering into the delivery space. Priority Mode was one adjustment on their core business, rideshare. But it’s looking like it’s not helping drivers very much.
