[ardy42]

> I'm surprised there aren't more independent apps geared towards maximizing earning for drivers. Like it can't be that hard to create an artificial surge price if there's enough coordination between most regular drivers at popular spots (e.g. airports).

Wouldn't an app be relatively easy for Uber to monitor and subvert?

Drivers are already sometimes coordinating to create surge pricing, and they don't need an app to do it: https://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/uber-lyft-drivers-artificia...:

> While a reporter looked on, a group of about 50 drivers for both Lyft and Uber sat at their waiting area at Reagan National waiting while two drivers watched online to see when planes were about to land. After a plane lands, a lot of passengers request rideshare rides, which pushes demand up to begin with. But the drivers further tipped the imbalance between demand and supply by simultaneously turning off their apps five minutes before landing. Then two drivers stood at opposite ends of the waiting area, looking at the Uber and Lyft pricing for fares from the airport. They kept checking fares and watching the surge price increase until the fares were $13 higher than normal. At that point, they told the other drivers to turn their apps back on so they could begin accepting rides. The whole operation took less than two minutes, but now arriving passengers would pay around $13 more to reach their destinations.

[naebother]

I guess, to some extent. If Uber figures out that drivers are currently participating in a mini-strike, they could just not increase the fare. But then it's just a matter of who's willing to wait it out longer. I just think drivers have a better chance at getting Uber to capitulate eventually and increase the fare if drivers act collectively.

And it's good that drivers are trying to do this organically, but I think there's value in doing this systematically and an easy to use anonymous way. Like if I wanted to participate in this at the Regan National, where do I sign up? Probably some group chat somewhere that I first have to chat-up one of the other drivers for.

I guess I want someone to make an app to monetize and gamify collective bargaining. If you want to skim 1-2% off the top or show me some dumb ads, sure. As long as you can squeeze that sweet VC lemon (or the rider) and make me more in the processes, it's all good.

[bradleyjg]

I’m fairly certain this happened to me a couple of weeks ago at LAX. Everyone in the waiting area kept on having a low fare pop up, accept it, and then have uber try to substitute it for a much higher fare before ultimately saying there were no drivers available.