1/Had an awful #toxicmasculinity @lyft experience that exemplified why culture matters so much when building a business and customer loyalty. Driver picked me up and then two other passengers for shared ride. I inquired the order of stops and mine was next destination.
2/Found out destination of other passengers and informed @lyft driver that his route was going in opposite direction of both passenger stops. Asked if he could reroute back to main road which would have been a 7 minute drive direct line on one road to my stop.
3/@lyft driver started complaining of my request and informed me he would not be paid if he veered from exact GPS route. I shared my experience that that policy was only for pickups to ensure no detour and efficiency of all passenger pickups.
4/Never had an issue in past with other @lyft drivers not going shortest distance between two points which would save both sets of passengers time and give him more opportunity to pick up more rides and make more money. He started bitching about my comments...
5/...and @lyft driver comments became belligerent. I expressed my dismay at his rudeness and poor customer service. He expressed anger at my expression with volumes at much higher decibels.
6/I suggested to @lyft driver he may want to consider a line of work that didn’t involve customer service as he was being very rude and combative to me for just sharing my past ride experiences. His blood pressure and volume continued to escalate.
6/I asked him to stop and expressed greater dismay at his behavior. It was clear to me his overreaction was to my gender maki by a request and called him a “sexist asshole.” At that point he stopped the car and started yelling and told me to get out in a threatening manner.
7/Was transporting many bags so it was not convenient or safe for me to do so. GPS showed he was 3 minutes from my stop. @lyft driver called 911 to complain I called him an asshole. Couldn’t wait to share how dismay at his threatening behavior, gestures, and tone with police.
8/Waited 40 minutes for police who never came. Didn’t want to leave and be accused of leaving the scene of a purported crime although none had been committed except perhaps on @lyft driver side by being menacing. He kept yelling how no one ever called him an asshole before.
9/Suspect this was cultural given we were in NYC. Asked other passengers if they wanted to share another @lyft ride or green yellow cab during 40 minute wait. As other passengers and I explored other ride options, driver started to move again, but still mouthing “asshole.”
10/@AskLyft do you drivers get vetted for #genderbias and #genderdiscrimination? It was a clear case of his ego bei bruised. Afterwards worried about driver going home and taking it out on wife. Had podcasting equipment with me so got it all down. #DEI training is not enough.
Please unroll @threadreaderapp
