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Public transportation is a godsend when everything is running as it should. You may run into the occasional nuisance, like a weather-related delay or a drunken hobo accosting you for money, but on most days relying on public transit is a safe bet.
Uber and Lyft, in all of their infinite wisdom, decided a few years back that the public transit model was a market that they needed to tap into. They call them pools or lines, and they’ve become quite popular amongst people who don’t want to ride a bus or subway system but still want that feeling of sitting next to strangers in a cramped space.
The idea of the UberPool is a nice one. Through some algorithm that is no doubt incredibly complicated, Uber and Lyft figured out a way to get people going in the same general direction into the same car and get dropped off individually.
The rides are exponentially cheaper and you’re still getting picked up right where you want to be, and although you may have to wait a few extra minutes to get to your destination, you’re saving a lot of money by going this route instead of the traditional UberX or Lyft.
For some, the waiting that one has to do in a pool simply isn’t worth it, but if you’re not in a huge rush the savings that you’ll see is pretty staggering. And that part of this idea is awesome. I loathe paying for Ubers and this service makes my wallet hurt a little bit less.
The problem with UberPool and Lyft Line is that people haven’t yet realized that this is the same thing as taking a bus or subway car. Either that or I just always get stuck in the worst ones.
You don’t see strangers on a bus talking to each other about what they’re doing tonight or who they’re going to see. On a bus everyone keeps their head down and shuts the hell up because no one cares what someone else is doing with the rest of their evening. It’s just an unspoken agreement (especially in New York and Chicago) that you don’t talk on the train unless you’re riding with someone you know.
When I get into Uber Pools the people sitting in the car with me always feel the need to divulge super personal information. I was in one a few weekends ago and I took the front seat because there were two girls and a guy already in the back of the car.
One of the girls started asking me about what I majored in during college. I was shocked that she didn’t ask me how my parents were doing back in Michigan. I laughed off her question and gave her a polite answer but in my head, I was just confused and a little bit angry if I’m being completely honest. I signed up for a cheaper ride.
I knew it was going to be cramped, but if I had known I was going to get grilled about the mistakes I made in undergrad and who I was seeing on that night I would have just taken the more expensive UberX. The six dollars I saved was not worth the horrible conversation I was forced to endure that night.
Why are we forcing these conversations? Is it so much to ask that we just sit in peace, sharing silence with one another? I’d say let’s put our headphones in and just forget about this problem I keep having in the Pools and Lines of the world, but then the strangers in the seats would assume that I’m a rude person. Contrary to popular belief I’m not rude, I went to cotillion for years and have impeccable manners.
UberPool is not a fucking meet and greet. We’re sharing cabs with one another, not sitting down in a restaurant to break bread. Just shut the fuck up and stop trying to make small talk with me.
No matter how uncomfortable the silence in the car is, I promise you it’s better than sitting in a car with two or three other strangers and talking about your commute to work or if anyone has been to the bar that Kristy in the back left seat is headed to this evening. Fuck..
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jduda@grandex.co
Wish they would launch this in my city, but whatever. You’re 100% right though. When utilizing Pool in other cities, people won’t shut up. Although if I caught you in a UberPool best believe I’m a talk to you, Johnny.
A simple “how’s your night going?” is okay, but anything more than that and you need to shut the fuck up in an UberPool
Yeah this is where I’m at. Give me a head nod to acknowledge the others in the car but we don’t need to speak
In NYC nobody talks in pools. If you take Via (~$6 flat rate anywhere below harlem or so) they expressly disallow conversation or phone calls. It’s great.
Uber Pool is for broke boys
More like UberPoor, amirite?
Check your yearly cc statement and look how much you spend on Uber. When it’s 4 figures, UberPool sounds pretty good.
Just put your headphones in and give them a half smile when you get in the car, I’ve never talked to another passenger in a pool this way
Yeahhh, I already don’t want to make small talk with the uber driver (unless I’m drunk), let alone another human being sitting directly next to me.
If you want no one to talk to you ever again, just hand them your business card and say you’re a growth hacker
Would equate this with people who try to talk to me when I have headphones in
I never acknowledge the other passengers so I never have this problem. I get in and have my face in my phone from pickup to dropoff. Is it rude? Probably. But at least I don’t have to bother with forced small talk with strangers I’ll never see again.
Has anyone ever done a bachelor party at one of the casino resorts in Louisiana? If so, which one and what did you think about it?
It really depends on what you are looking for. I did L’Auberge and it was good not great. If you want a lower key party with some golf, gambling, and good pool situation, this is the place. If you want some more excitement just drive the extra couple of hours to Nola. Regardless, the hooters in Beaumont will do wonders for your hangover on Sunday.
Going more pool/golf vibe so that’s great info. And you can’t top a Beaumont hooters stop to end a bachelor party
I can’t speak on the golf but I’ve heard good things. I think there are canbanas that are available for rent poolside. There is a strip club not to far from the hotels that is interesting to say the least. Your Uber driver will know how to get there.
This makes me want to go down there and riverboat gamble, get drunk off some weird moonshine, and then go catch a jazz ensemble and dance with sexyadues while eating gatormeat tacos or something