Countless Angelenos drive for ride-sharing companies as their primary or supplementary source of income. But take enough Uber and Lyft rides in L.A. and you’ll discover there are 15 types of drivers navigating our sun-glistened city streets, all of whom you're definitely going to ride with if you're using a ride-sharing app.
1. The driver who invites you to his band’s gig after your ride. Who knows if they’ll end up becoming the next Lindsey Buckingham or John Mayer, what’s important now is that we pay $5 to watch this driver’s band play Fleetwood Mac covers in NoHo on Tuesday night.
2. The driver who clearly smoked a cigarette in their car a few minutes before picking you up. We’re in the Valley, they couldn’t pull over to an empty parking lot to do this?
3. The driver who has lived in a trendy neighborhood in L.A. for decades and complains about it becoming too gentrified. "It’s just all a bunch of yuppies and chain stores moving into Venice/Echo Park/Eagle Rock," complains this driver. "Ten years ago you could get a one bedroom here for $50 a month, now it's impossible to find a studio for less than $3,000 a week." And yet they’re driving a Benz while drinking a caramel Frappuccino. Hmm.
4. The Santa Monica driver who doesn’t go anywhere east of the 405. They’ll speed down Pico to get you to Ocean Boulevard in under five minutes, and can even hook you up with entry into the Bungalow without having to wait in line, but this Santa Monica bubble dweller will be damned if you ever ask them to cross Sepulveda—unless surge pricing is involved.
5. The driver who knows L.A. and everyone in it like the back of their hand. Not only have they been to that low-key Koreatown bar you’re going to, but they know all the staff members and were in the owner’s wedding.
6. The driver who can’t stop talking about the celebrity he drove around months ago. "I was just so relieved to learn that Emma Stone is just a regular person like you and me," this driver not-so-humbly brags. "And she even gave me a big tip after I dropped her off at the airport. She really is the best."
7. The driver who just moved to L.A. and doesn’t know where they’re going. "I don’t know why Google Maps says I need to keep going up on Cahuenga to get to North Hollywood," says this confused driver while parked across the street from Hollywood and Highland. "It looks like this is as far north as Hollywood gets." Ugh.
8. The driver who purposely misses your gate at LAX to get a bit extra fare. "Oh Terminal 1? I’m sorry, I thought you said Terminal 7." Suuurre you did.
9. The driver who always says that Highland Park is better than wherever you’re going. Yes, we know that Highland Park is arguably the coolest neighborhood in L.A. right now. No, we don’t need to go to York Boulevard every night, sometimes good ol' Echo or Glassell will do just fine.
10. The underemployed actor driver who you’ve totally seen in something but just can’t put your finger on it. Oh wait! She was in that one Best Buy commercial, that’s right!
11. The guy trying to break into the entertainment industry who's hoping to network with his passengers. "I left my resume in the back seat, just in case you or your friends know of anything opening up."
12. The driver who complains about living in L.A. and says wherever they’re from is better. You know, you can move back to Austin, you don’t have to stay here if you don’t want to.
13. The mellow Venice driver who doesn’t wear shoes while driving. There’s nothing but good vibes, free spirits and foot fungus allowed in his car.
14. The driver who’s way too into hiking. Dude, all I wanted was a ride to Griffith Park, not a 30-minute lecture on the best time to go to the Grotto Trail in Malibu.
15. The stand-up comedian who says they’ll give you a comp at their show but then forgets to put you on the list. That was not cool, Matt! You owe me for that two-drink minimum!
Want more? Sign up here to stay in the know.