Re: “WA union for Uber, Lyft drivers says too many rideshares are on the road” (Feb. 26, Local News):
I agree with the article claiming that Seattle has a rideshare problem, although my diagnosis is the exact opposite: Rideshare is no longer affordable in Seattle.
When compared to Uber and Lyft in other major cities, including Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York, the cost of rideshare in Seattle is extremely high. These days, I only use rideshare to get to and from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, especially since parking costs have also exploded at the airport. I begrudgingly expect $100+ fares from north of the Ship Canal Bridge as an added cost of travel.
Imagine my surprise when a similar-length trip in Los Angeles recently cost half that. I’d argue that there aren’t too many drivers, but that the fares are too high, suppressing ridership. On the bright side, I’m trying to ride my bike more.
Brad Kahn, Seattle
