Seattle Yellow Cab Single Owner Rebellion & What To Do If Your Uber Or Lyft Driver Is Kidnapping You

Frustration with Yellow/Puget Sound Dispatch boiled over into an impromptu labor action this week, 80 or more single owners turning in their tablets/computers in protest over PSD's mishandling of its new system prepayment request.  As mentioned last week, PSD bungled the process by not communicating adequately over the past few months what was pending, what monetary amount would be requested.  Unfortunately, the walkout put everyone who didn't, including myself, under incredible pressure to serve our accounts, especially our morning and afternoon school runs, with hundreds of children requiring transportation to regional schools.  While intending to send PSD a message, in turn it wasn't wise to punish the innocent who have nothing to do with Yellow's inherent dysfunction.  What occurred both Thursday and Friday was an concerted effort to serve the bells, and for the most part, we were successful, with the majority of the school children arriving to class on time.  Sympathy aside, there has to be a better way to address single owner concerns, and I only hope their actions opened more productive communication channels addressing current and future issues, making everyone's sacrifice meaningful.

One startling, related response was the verbal attack directed at me yesterday when doing "my turn" at the cashier's office, D_____, YC 8 _ _, angrily bombarding me with allegations I had betrayed the drivers by joining with Amin, the PSD general manager in a scheme to somehow skim, embezzle money from MTI, the new system contractor.  Requesting him to stop, saying repeatedly he was insulting me, he kept on until, losing my temper, I turned  around and shouted "Shut up!" sending the message my tolerance quickly fading.  On top of accusing me, Amin and PSD of Federal crimes, he clearly said my motivation was due to being white, implying I am racist.  Amazing, concerning all this nonsense, is that, other than making the initial trip down to Portland to review the system, and writing two system review blog posts, I have had nothing to do with PSD implementation and planning, this particular driver's paranoia spilling over me.

Again, there is long history to this, and with everyone struggling to make money, it puts all of us on edge, with some obviously leaping over the cliff into psychiatric oblivion.  What D______ seemed not to understand is how his performance endangered himself, opening up potential libel suits by me or PSD.  Sad is how we have always been friendly, which is what I said yesterday walking out the door.  But for anyone reading my blog for the very first time, this is what taxi does to people, it makes you crazy, prompting behavior later regrettable.  Such is taxi as I know and hate it, and hate it I do! Screw taxi!

Just Don't Sit There in the Backseat Allowing Yourself to be Victimized

In the various accounts of female passengers attacked by Uber/ Lyft and ersatz Uber/Lyft drivers, all say the victim sat there waiting for the outcome whatever that might be, never detailing the kind of response required when you are being kidnapped.  Instead of waiting, the proper response is to attack---turning off the key, grabbing the steering wheel or poking the rapist in the face and eyes.  With the driver facing forward, it is the victim who holds the advantage, and I advise anyone finding themselves in that awful situation to be instantaneously aggressive, quickly disabling the driver and car.  What you don't do is allow yourself to be killed or raped.  Once it's clear you are under threat, attack, attack and attack again, ending the situation quickly.  Don't be afraid. Act!