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As e-hailing drivers continue to demand better pricing mechanisms determined by their own input and better earnings from app companies like <a href="http://uber.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Uber</a> and <a href="http://bolt.eu" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Bolt</a>, an e-hailing driver simply identified as Zino has crafted a unique way of protesting and pressing home his demand. The driver negotiates with his rider right there on the message section of the taxi-hailing app.
Typically, offline trips are carried out when a driver accepts a ride, meets the rider and physically negotiates a price different from and higher than the one stipulated on the app. This could also be done over the phone. Both parties could agree to either cancel the trip or let it run, with the driver pocketing the excess after the fare stipulated on the app has been deducted.
But Zino insists on haggling and agreeing to his own price right there on the e-hailing app so that the companies can see him do just that. He typically does this at the chat section where he obtains clarity about his destination before revealing his own price to the rider. While this runs contrary to the provisions of the app companies, Zino says this kind of disobedience was his way of protesting against the app companies.
“I abuse their app as a sign of protesting for injustice to drivers. I educate riders on the wrongdoings of app companies every time I pick the riders. They do not own a car, they do not maintain it, they do fuel it, yet they fix ridiculous prices. Do you think those riders who accept offline don’t know what they are doing? They are able to cooperate because some of our drivers have educated them on the injustices to drivers not minding how the app companies have bad-mouthed and presented offline to riders,” he said.
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This is an odd but nonetheless creative way to stage a one-man protest. It also seems like a pretty effective way as it appears to have caught the attention of at least one of the app companies that has subsequently issued him a warning. But it is also dangerous as it could lead to the app company blocking the driver from its app. Asked if he is not worried about getting blocked on the platforms and losing a source of income, Zino said he believes in sacrificing to get something he really wants.
“Everyone has a way of protesting. Some sit at home, some use their app to campaign against their (Uber and Bolt) wrong and inhuman policies, some delete their app, some go to social media to give bad reviews. So choose your battle and if you are comfortable with them ride on. We must learn to sacrifice to gain. For me and some other drivers, we will keep fighting. If they like let them block. Sooner or later an app that will listen to drivers’ yearnings will surface. The app will give total freedom for drivers and riders to TRULY NEGOTIATE what suits them because that is the proper way to go,” he said.
<h4 id="price-determination-by-uber-and-bolt" class="wp-block-heading">Price determination by Uber and Bolt</h4>
This is coming amid calls for Uber, Bolt and other ride-hailing apps to allow drivers to determine their own fares per trip. The Nigerian app-based drivers’ union, the Amalgamated Union of App-based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON), led a campaign for the Lagos state government to include its deed in the state’s regulatory document. A major point of it was for the government to include a pricing mechanism in the state’s law.
But beyond the government setting a price for the industry, many drivers believe strongly that they, who provide the services, ought to dictate the pay. They made comparisons with food delivery services which app companies like Uber and Bolt are also involved in. The argument is that, if their food verticals like Bolt Food which is also an aggregator in that sector do not determine the price of the meal, on what rationale should they determine the price of rides?
“A referral company (like Uber and Bolt) cannot fix the price to which you will render services. You who render services must be the one to put your price based on the condition of the road. Don’t be taken for granted by app companies. If they must fix the price let them buy a car, maintain it and hire a driver to be paid an agreed salary,” Zino said.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="800" height="414" src="https://technext24.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Uber-Bolt-drivers-demand.png" alt="Lagos e-hailing regulations have no benefit for us- Uber/Bolt drivers" class="wp-image-232747">
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 Uber and Bolt drivers want to improve their earnings
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It is interesting to note that InDrive already allows drivers to indicate (not necessarily negotiate) the best prices for them. A typical InDrive request would be met with a recommended price from the app, and several feedbacks from drivers indicating their own prices. It now behoves the rider to choose their preferred driver for the trip.
InDrive’s model, which has made it quite popular amongst many drivers, has, however, made it unpopular for some. For the latter set, they believe the app is forcing drivers to accept low fares in the guise of giving them a choice. This is because, typically, any driver who stuck with the recommended price gets the ride as other drivers would likely present higher fares. Because of this, they believe an app that truly wanted to give drivers the power to set prices won’t make them scramble against each other for it.
See also: <a href="https://technext24.com/2024/07/23/bolt-drivers-with-15-commission-bonus/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Bolt entices drivers with 15% commission bonus as it struggles to keep them on its platform</a>

This Nigerian driver is dictating his own price on the Uber and Bolt apps in protest against pricing

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