
I’ve had some pretty great conversations with Uber drivers in my time.
To a lot of my friends, I’m known as that annoying person who jumps in the front seat en route to the club and initiates a long-winded chat, opting for tried and test “Busy night?” opener to a wave of eye rolls in the back seat.
Yes, I’m *that* girl on a Saturday night.
If I’m headed off on holidays, I’ll ramble on excitedly about my plans, listening to the driver’s own travel stories and lapping up any recommendations they offer on the way to the airport.
I once found the best secret curry house on Brick Lane thanks to an Uber driver, and countless others have pointed out tiny cafes in Sydney’s inner west I would have never discovered on my own.
I’ve heard some amazing stories of people who have lived all over the world, and been handed business cards for landscaping services, photographers, DJ hire equipment, event planning, you name it.
I like to think I’m a pretty good passenger, too, with a 4.87 rating to show for it (mind the humble brag).
But.
When I heard the app was launching a “quiet mode”, my first thought was “Hell to the yes”.
Yep, Uber is introducing an actual button that kindly requests a quiet ride, meaning you can choose in advance whether you’re looking for a quiet ride, or a chatty one.
The new service titled Uber Comfort, which is around 1.2 times the cost of an UberX, includes extended wait times of up to 10 minutes, newer cars and even an option to request your ideal car temperature in advance. Fancy.
But while many people out there might find Uber’s new quiet mode completely unnecessary, I think it’s bloody brilliant.
You see – I work an evening shift and take an Uber home every night. When I clamber into my four-door chariot late on a weeknight, I’m longing to get home, ditch my bra for my soft clothes, and either climb into bed straightaway or stay up and watch my shows.
All I want to do is switch off, scroll mindlessly on my phone, and send obscure memes to my sister that she probably won’t understand.
Top Comments
Exactly! We need more quiet time dealing with people. At the supermarket today the cashier said it was a lovely Autumn day.
I glared silently and imperiously while dusting a small speck off my sleeve (it was an expensive houndstooth coat, one has to be careful) and raised my eyebrows in such a manner that says far more than words and would have made Emilia Clarke proud as I saw the soul of the person shrivel and diminsh to nothingness.
Kidding of course - I could never afford a houndstooth coat.
I think you were in the right with your reaction. We are far from Autumn.