Uber Passengers In Baltimore Are Among The Worst Behaved: Survey

BALTIMORE, MD — When it comes to manners, Uber riders in Baltimore apparently don't have a lot of them, according to a new survey by the ride-sharing company.

The company released a survey Wednesday that concluded that Baltimore has the ninth worst-rated Uber riders in the country. Rudeness is just one of several factors taken into consideration for the ranking.

Baltimore's overall ranking was determined by average rider ratings doled out by Uber drivers. Riders earn anywhere between one and five stars based on a variety of factors, including cleanliness, punctuality, safety, and overall respect for the driver and other passengers, Uber said.

While Baltimore may have fared poorly in the survey, other cities did even worse. According to the survey, New York City has the worst-rated Uber passengers in the country, ranking No. 1. Seattle came in at No. 2 followed by Washington, DC at No. 3.

The list of best-rated cities includes San Antonio (No. 1), St. Louis (No. 2) and Nashville (No. 3).

The complete list is below:

The survey comes on the heels of Uber announcing a new privacy link feature that allows users to see a careful breakdown of just how drivers score them in several categories.

According to Uber, by launching its privacy center, it hopes to provide users with more transparency and easier access to their data.

"We hope that by giving users a peek into how their rating is calculated, we can help encourage positive experiences between riders and drivers on every trip," Zach Singleton, head of privacy and equity products at Uber, said in a statement.

The ratings breakdown is available to all Uber users right in the privacy center, which can be accessed by logging into their account online or in the app, Uber said.

Both riders and drivers have the ability to rate one to five stars on a trip. To help Uber riders improve that rating, drivers have shared some of the top reasons they hand out fewer stars:

1. Pack it in, pack it out: Drivers shouldn’t have to clean up after you. Always make sure to take your trash and any other belongings with you. Don’t leave a mess behind.
2. Buckle Up: Studies show that unbuckled passengers in the back seat can put the driver at greater risk of injury in a crash. So always remember to buckle up for your and the driver’s safety.
3. Be ready: Remember that drivers’ time is valuable and they shouldn’t have to wait for you. A smooth pickup is better for everyone so be ready to go when the driver arrives.
4. Treat everyone and everything with respect: As outlined in our Community Guidelines, we want riders and drivers to feel safe, respectful, and positive. Always treat your driver and their vehicle as you would want to be treated.
5. Don’t slam the door! It is easy to accidentally slam a door if you aren’t thinking about it, and drivers have consistently cited door slams as a reason why they deduct stars.

To learn more about Uber's new privacy link feature, click here.