I’ve been deep in this rideshare game all year, and the journey has been anything but smooth. From slow mornings with $3–$8 locals, to late-night hustles where indecisive college kids keep you waiting, every shift tells a story. I’ve driven it all: downtown San Diego, PB, Hillcrest, Mission Beach, La Jolla, even out to Santee and Normal Heights. The miles stack up, the hours stretch long, but every ride teaches something about how to survive this gig economy grind. Just last night I ran a late shift that clocked in at $250 total. Lyft gave me efficiency with fewer rides but solid payouts, while Uber piled on the trips, tips, and promos. I had 10 Lyft rides in just under 3 hours booked time, covering 75 miles, and Uber added another 13 trips in a little over 3.5 hours. That meant fighting through wasted minutes, no-shows, and the classic bar-close shuffle, but it still paid out in the end. Nights like this are the reminder that you can’t rely on one app or one strategy you’ve got to be flexible, ready to flip between Lyft and Uber, and smart about positioning. But this year hasn’t just been about one night. Since 2025 kicked off, I’ve been experimenting with everything rideshare has to offer. Running UberXL and Comfort to snag higher-value trips. Testing the AM airport rush versus the PM nightlife. Learning that San Diego slows down hard without conventions or big events, and you’ve got to adapt to locals-only traffic. Even venturing further out South Bay, North County, Carlsbad, San Marcos when the central grid dries up. I’ve felt the sting of six-hour shifts that barely broke $100, and the rush of $60+ long rides that reminded me why I keep logging in. Along the way, I’ve added side hustles to squeeze every bit out of my car. Octopus tablets, Firefly wraps, even RoadClub for safe driving rewards. It’s about stacking streams, not relying on just the fare. That’s the mindset I bring into every shift now: maximize the tools, minimize the wasted minutes. So here’s my message to any driver who’s been feeling stuck: the grind is real, the numbers aren’t always pretty, but the strategy is where the game is won. Don’t just drive track, analyze, adjust. Learn the zones, know when to call it, and keep stacking side hustles until your wheels are earning more than just the fare.

📊 Totals So Far Lyft: $191.70 (1 hr 41 min booked time) Uber: 3 hr 21 min (slower pace) Next Goal: Another 2-hour push coming up 🕚 Shift Window: 11 PM – 1 AM (started in PB) 😤 Challenges: Lots of indecisive college students No-shows + late pickups Too many wasted minutes → low fare rides ✅ Takeaway: Even with the frustrations, Lyft came through big early. Uber side dragged, but I’m pacing for a strong night overall. 💭 Anyone else run into the college crowd shuffle late nights? How do you handle no-shows or time-wasting riders?

🚗 Shift Recap: 2 Hours — $72.94 🗺️ Route Highlights • Downtown ➡️ Santee • La Jolla ➡️ Downtown • Downtown ➡️ Normal Heights ⏱️ Taking a 15-min pit stop, then jumping back in for another 2 hours. 💵 Totals: $72.94 in 2 hours → about $36.47/hr 🔥 Takeaway: Even with a short break, positioning downtown and running these mid-range trips kept the pace strong. Definitely felt smoother than the slow AM shifts. 🛑 Lesson Learned: Don’t underestimate mid-length rides they stack up quickly without pulling you too far out of the grid. How did your shift go? Drop your earnings, routes, or lessons below 👇

What’s up crew, This week has been rough in the San Diego AM market. 🚙💨 Low ride quantity → long stretches with no pings. Low fares → the rides I did get weren’t making it worth the miles. Best XL ride of the week? Canceled on me 5 minutes away. 😤 It’s one of those stretches where it feels like you’re just burning gas and chasing shadows. But here’s where I’m at: 👉 Time to damage control this weekend. Starting tonight (Friday) at 6 PM, I’m flipping the switch into weekend hustle mode. I’m hoping nightlife + airport waves can make up for the slow mornings. 💬 Question for y’all: How are your AM markets looking in your city? Any San Diego drivers feeling the same dip this week? What’s your go-to damage control strategy when the week starts off slow? Let’s share some game here — no driver left behind. 🔑 Stay safe, stay sharp, and may the surge be with us. ⚡

Welcome to the Pit Stop Lounge This is your space to pull over, drop your thoughts, and connect with the crew. Got a funny passenger story? Post it. Need to vent about a rough shift? This is the place. Landed a big tip or hit a personal goal? Celebrate it here. Nothing’s too small or too big — the Lounge is open 24/7. So… what’s on your mind after today’s rides?