Oct 27, 2022
Ride-hailing has become a staple in many people’s lives. It offers a fast and convenient way to get around town without having to own a private car or wait for public transport.
Despite its popularity, there are still some misconceptions about ride-hailing services. But no more! In this article, we’ll debunk the three most popular ride-hailing myths.
Perhaps the most popular myth about ride-hailing — and the most persistent — is pricing. Many believe ride-hailing prices are uncontrolled and can increase anytime, without reason.
But before we debunk this myth, it’s important to understand how ride-hailing fees are calculated. Bolt’s fare price consists of the following components:
These components are fixed. But there’s one dynamic component to our pricing: surge pricing.
Surge pricing increases during high-demand periods (rush hour, bad weather, etc.). So, when more people request rides than cars that are available, prices go up to incentivise more drivers to get on the road.
But even surge pricing isn’t entirely uncontrolled — it’s still based on an algorithm that takes into account current demand and supply.
So while prices may go up during high-demand periods, they’re never random, and you can always see the price before you request a ride. At Bolt, we’re constantly working to ensure that our prices are fair, transparent, and predictable.
If your trip isn’t urgent, just wait a few minutes for demand to drop and prices to return to normal.
This is another popular ride-hailing myth and one we take seriously. Safety is our top priority, which is why we have several measures to ensure that riders and drivers are safe before, during, and after rides*:
*Bolt products and safety features vary by country. We tailor our features to local conditions to ensure they’re as relevant and useful as possible.
We’re constantly working to improve safety for riders and drivers and have a dedicated Safety team available 24/7 to handle any concerns.
Ride-hailing lets people drive and earn when and where they want. But that doesn’t mean anyone can become a driver.
We consider different factors when approving new drivers to ensure that only the best are on the road. Some of these factors include:
After meeting our requirements, drivers can take an online training course. The course familiarises drivers with the app, community guidelines, and safety procedures.
And even after a driver’s approved, they still need to maintain a certain level of service quality to stay on the platform.
So while anyone can become a ride-hailing driver, not everyone’s accepted. We have high driver standards in order to maintain a high-quality service and guarantee passenger comfort and safety.
We’ve debunked some of the most popular myths about ride-hailing, but there are still plenty of misconceptions out there.
If you’re a frequent ride-hailer, you probably know these myths are just that — myths. But if you’re new to ride-hailing or still have doubts, we hope this has cleared things up for you.
Ride-hailing is a safe and convenient way to get around — try it yourself and see!
