So if you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you know that I had to give up on my Stax4 dream because I stopped driving a few years ago. I believe that the last time I drove a car was may 2016. I miss driving to this day…especially fast and aggressively …but I digress…anyhoo, so I was thinking about buying an accessible vehicle when T-ster suggested that I use Lyft to get around instead of putting myself in the expense of a new car (that I rhelly didn’t want cuz I like small cars). Well allyuh, I never looked back. I eh go lie, I was nervous at first requesting a Lyft ride, but eventually I got over it and it was smooth sailing…it’s now been 3 years later and…well, a weird thing has started happening.
Now, I really haven’t had any bad experiences. I would say that 99% of the time, I walk the driver thru breaking down OP or folding up the ‘bee and we’re off…but these days, I eh go lie, I breathe a sigh of relief every time I request a car and I see that a male driver has been assigned. No one outwardly complains (sorta) but I see the doubt/trepidation/skepticism flutter across their faces when they pull up and see me…and the worst offenders are young black women. I’m not a judgemental person generally but on the lyft app? I am – the other day I cancelled rides three times (I had time to kill that day) just hoping to be assigned a male driver and also because I was thinking about my potential experience and basing it on how the driver looked. Understand – guys never complain and they always get out of their cars to help, without my asking or saying anything. Women? Not so much…they huff, puff, make lil comments (nothing rude or that make me feel uncomfortable) and then they try to make nice after the fact. Now don’t get me wrong, if someone doesn’t want to deal with the scooter or put it in their car or whatever, I have no problem cancelling the ride and sending them on their way but instead of just stating as such, women will ben an screw before or while we are going thru the motions to get the scooter in the trunk – once, I actually helped one put OP in her trunk; don’t ask me how I did it but I did – she was muttering and grumbling a little and I just helped so that we could move along. I don’t let whatever they say or how they act rub me the wrong way because I just don’t have time to make that a “thing” and please keep in mind that it doesn’t happen all the time or even the majority of the time.
So of late, I’ve been wondering if I am being presumptuous by using the regular Lyft car. I say “regular” because they supposedly offer accessible vehicle rides too but I don’t use those cuz they have to be scheduled in advance (I leave here on a whim sometimes) and ultimately, either of my scooters will fit in any car trunk so I don’t NEED an accessible vehicle. But, by using the regular car, I’m making the assumption that the driver will be okay dealing with the scooter…is that wrong of me? Am I being too bol’face? Why should I assume that a stranger would just do whatever needs to be done? I actually talked to a driver about it – although I don’t know that the driver was the best one. HE had no problem with it and HE told me that HE viewed it as HE was making a difference in someone’s life and was helping someone who needed help and he was just doing what he’d hope that someone else might do for his daughter, his niece, his mother etc if they needed help.
Anyway, those thoughts have been swirling around in my head lately, although they haven’t stopped me from using Lyft when I need to…I am just a little wary sometimes.