Rideshare demand causes longer wait occasions as Las Vegas tourism will increase

by: Madison Kimbro, Kaitlyn Olvera

Posted: Mar 28, 2021 / 7:30 AM PDT
/. Updated: March 28, 2021 / 7:30 AM PDT

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – As more people visit Las Vegas, the demand for rides in the city has increased, but there has been a major delay for ride sharing agencies like Uber and Lyft.

From waiting times to unexpected cancellations to no-shows, it becomes a problem not only for visitors but also for locals.

“We sat there literally 20 minutes before we even got an accepted ride. We tried both Uber and Lyft on our phones and there were no rides available, ”said David Franz-Robinson, a local rideshare user.

“I see her and I see the driver and then suddenly it is said that we have found another driver for you. I was supposed to go to work for a while on Saturday and waited over 2.5 hours, ”said Deborah Sheldon, another local rideshare user.

Why is this happening? Many factors contribute to the delays. One thing is the obvious: the COVID-19 pandemic. Many drivers do not feel comfortable driving strangers around in their vehicle.

Inadequate wages, unemployment benefits and rising gasoline prices are also a big problem for carpooling.

Kaptyn, a new age fleet transportation company based in Vegas, says it’s critical for these companies and their drivers to communicate honestly with one another in these times.

“Drivers need to understand what they’re coming back to from a workforce standpoint and I think we all need to do a better job as employers in this category, explaining to drivers and educating them about the value propositions we can have” said Andrew Meyers, CEO of Kaptyn.

Kaptyn is not a car pool agency, but a luxurious, private car service. Although prices are higher, local business has increased significantly.

Kaptyn currently has 150 full-time drivers who are actively recruiting.

To book a ride and learn more about the service, click HERE.