Lyft, Uber drivers feeling the strain from rising gas prices

Uber and Lyft drivers are voicing concerns this week over rising gas prices cutting into their profits.

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Uber driver Lena Antoon says it’s costing her an additional $35 a day just to drive, and that she is beyond frustrated.

“I am in bewilderment,” she told KIRO Newsradio. “When I joined the team, it was fantastic and I did it for extra income. Then, all of sudden, I saw the gas prices go up 20 cents, and then another 10.”

As of Tuesday, the average gas price in Seattle is $4.72 a gallon. In some areas, like Capitol Hill, gas is already over $5, while Tacoma and surrounding areas are paying $4.53. And with the United States cutting off oil ties with Russia, another increase is expected.

Antoon and her fellow drivers have reached out to Uber for help, and have heard nothing so far. This has prompted drivers locally and nationwide to sign a petition asking rideshare companies to step in and lend support.

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Responding to those demands, an Uber spokesperson issued the following statement to KIRO Newsradio:

“We know higher prices at the pump can be a challenge, which is why we recently launched a new feature that helps drivers save up to 25¢ per gallon through cash back with GetUpSide. Our platform only works if it works for drivers, so we’ll continue to monitor gas prices and listen to drivers over the coming weeks.”

For drivers like Antoon, though, the solution is simple.

“Pay us a little more,” she said. “Maybe add 50 cents or a dollar more to the rides — that will help us.”

Until then, she doesn’t know if she can keep driving.