Red Deer Uber riders are more considerate than most in Canada.
According to Uber drivers, Red Deer ranks second among cities with the highest average rider rating. Saskatoon, Sask. ranks first, followed by Abbotsford, B.C. in third place, Brantford, Ont. in fourth, and Lethbridge in fifth.
Reg Warkentin, policy and government affairs manager with the Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce, said he wasn’t surprised by what Red Deer Uber drivers reported.
“People in Red Deer work hard and they respect and appreciate other people who work hard. I think it’s a really big part of it,” said Warkentin who recently used an Uber and had an excellent experience.
He said people appreciate having access to services like Uber and e-scooters and they are good for the economy.
“These new services are a fantastic development not only for the residents and consumers who take advantage, but for the people employed,” Warkentin said.
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Erin Stuart, the city’s inspections and licensing manager, said Red Deer has 28 licensed Uber drivers and it was good to hear about the favourable relationship between Uber drivers and riders.
“It’s positive and aligned with what our goal was as far as creating the new vehicles for hire bylaw back in 2020 in which there were new regulations put in place. It ensures the safety of both the driver and the customers for Uber, as well as taxis and other vehicle for hire industries,” Stuart said.
Also, the fact that people are using Ubers shows that they are not drinking and driving, she said.
“It’s a positive thing that people are using the available transportation to them.”
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As of Wednesday, every rider could now see exactly how their rating is calculated via the new privacy center in the Uber app. Riders can see how many drivers gave them a stellar five-star rating, how many handed out the dreaded single star, and everything in between.
If riders want to improve their rating, drivers suggest:
• Always remember to buckle up for your and the driver’s safety. Studies show that unbuckled passengers in the back seat can put the driver at greater risk of injury in a crash.
• Be ready for when the driver arrives. A drivers’ time is valuable and they shouldn’t have to wait for passengers.
• Always treat the driver and their vehicle as you would want to be treated.
• Don’t slam the door. Drivers have consistently cited door slams as a reason why they deduct stars.
Riders can find step-by-step instructions on how to find the ratings breakdown at Uber.com.
szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com
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