[exue]

For people already with a car, the variable costs of driving (maintenance, fuel, etc.) is usually 25-45 cents (lower end is a economy car getting 30mpg city, higher end is a less fuel-efficient, less reliable car). Using 35c/mile, and an average urban driving speed, that's $5.25/hour.

Even idling half the time, that's 17.50-5.25=$12.25, better than many pizza delivery / the average urban courier rate. Delivery drivers often get far less than $35 while having to pay their own vehicle costs.

The calculus changes a lot just based on that single number, average speed. I'm sure the $35/hr number would be far higher if everyone was going on freeways between trips and racking up the miles like crazy (assuming Lyft incorporates distance into its pricing heavily)