Uber Destinations: Can it make you a more efficient Uber Driver in London?
As an Uber driver you have probably noticed that when you receive a ride request, it will also display the postcode of your next destination. This happens right before you pick up your next passenger. If used in the correct fashion, this minute detail can actually have a noticeable impact on your work life as an Uber driver in London.
How does Uber destinations work?
Before this update was rolled out on the Uber driver app, you were not actually shown where your next trip would lead to until you accepted the ride request. If you cancel a trip, it can have a negative consequence on your driver profile and will understandably cause frustration to your paying customers. Something you should bear in mind when you’re serving the capital city.
As a helpful result of this update to the app, ride requests now display a postcode of the pickup point in addition to the drop off destination. This helps both you as the Uber driver in London and the rider. You will now be able to decline the trip at an earlier stage, and this also enables the rider to have extra time to find an alternative taxi.
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How is this update useful for Uber drivers in London?
This app update is useful for several reasons. First and foremost, while working there will be days when it does not make sense to pay the congestion charge. This could be for several different reasons. Some of the most popular examples include drivers who want to avoid rush hour traffic or are simply working a shorter shift on that day.
The update will now notify you in real time if a trip will take you to an area that you would rather steer clear of. To do this, all you actually have to do is hit the ‘decline’ button within the app. It’s that easy. There is no need on your part to make contact with the rider and ask about their current location and destination. Furthermore, this also solves another problem too – you no longer have to accept a trip and then cancel after the fact. Many Uber drivers used to do this in the past, especially in and around London. Overall, this feature provides greater convenience to both parties and offers a more integrated user experience.
On top of this, as a driver, you will also be able to use Uber destinations if you wish to specifically target a certain area. Perhaps there may be a concert, sporting game, or other event that is due to finish shortly. This can be really helpful as you can target an area where you know you will land your next ride request in a short space of time. Secondary to this, you will also have the opportunity to secure an airport run or a trip to the train station far more easily. This allows you to swoop in and have a confirmed trip in minutes. In the fullness of time, this enables you to better manage your schedule and increase your earning efficiency.
Staying organised throughout the day
Earning money is only one aspect of the job for most people. It isn’t simply just about maximising your earning potential. While a high income as an Uber driver in London is great, you will also want to make certain that you maintain a healthy and positive work life balance. This is the key to long term success and will help you avoid fatigue as an Uber driver. For this reason, you should try to make sure you end your shift in the most optimal way you can.
A lot of the time, this is easier said than done. The last thing you want is for your final trip of the day to be an extended journey that takes you in the opposite direction of your home. As a result, you will arrive home late, consume extra fuel and end up with an empty tank before your next shift begins.
This is where Uber destinations is able to take the guesswork out of each and every ride. This will make time management far easier to assess whilst you are working. Added convenience is in both yours and the ridesharing company’s best interest.
Are postcodes still important with GPS?
Since everyone has become accustomed to using GPS functionality on their smartphones, remembering postcodes haven’t remained as relevant for the traveller. This has meant that many new Uber drivers in the profession simply think it’s a waste of time to memorise hundreds of postcodes. Who can blame them? Technology has found a solution to this challenge yet again.
On the contrary, it is actually still extremely useful to know what postcodes correspond to which area. To put it in context, you will not know the name of each and every street in London either. A street name doesn’t actually suggest where someone is, unless of course you know where exactly that street can be found without checking.
This is where postcodes demonstrate their usefulness as they are in fact actually quite logical for everyone who understands them. Postcodes were designed to give anyone using them a sense of general direction at a quick glance.
Postcode destinations in London
For postcodes in London, the first letter will give you a clear idea of where the district is relative to the city centre. For example ‘N’ stands for North, ‘SW’ for Southwest etc. Furthermore, the central area which covers the majority of the Congestion Charge Zone is divided into Eastern Central (EC) and Western Central (WC). You can also view the full list of the London postcodes and district names too.
To summarise, Uber destinations are extremely useful for taxi drivers in London and the rest of the UK for a variety of reasons, which we have explained above. Familiarising yourself with postcodes is relatively easy and well worth the time, especially if you plan to work in this industry for the long haul. In time, you will in fact memorise them without even thinking about it.