Uber, Lyft Add Fuel Surcharge To Help Drivers Cover Rising Gas Prices
Lyft has joined Uber in adding on a small surcharge to rides in order to help drivers combat rising gas prices.
A spokesperson for Lyft says that while plans are still being ironed out, it is “closely monitoring” the situation and its impact on drivers, who work as independent contractors and pay for their own gas.
“Driver earnings overall remain elevated compared to last year, but given the rapid rise in gas prices we’ll be asking riders to pay a temporary fuel surcharge, all of which will go to drivers,” says the representative.
According to CNN, Uber will be rolling out a similar fee across the whole of the US and Canada, apart from New York City, starting this week.
Going forward, all rides will cost an extra US$0.45 or US$0.55, and deliveries an extra US$0.35 or US$0.45 per trip.
As CNBC notes, the national average price for a gallon of gas soared to US$4.325 at the start of the week, a stark increase from US$2.859 at the same time last year.
[via CNN and CNBC, cover image via Paul Brennan | Dreamstime.com]
