I'M B-A-C-K

My poor old pea brain is exhausted!

Last week I re-opened Uber (haven't used it since I was in NYC 5 years ago!!).  Of course, they want to verify and yada yada yada.  I hate when they send a text to my phone while I am using the phone for the app.  Often I am unable to remember the six digits and have to write them down and then enter.  I know, I know ... first world problems.

Now to train the teen on asking before using.  He and his gal pal have been using her Mom's Uber all summer with no regard to cost!  Last Saturday, I dropped them off at a yard sale about 15 minutes away.  They were going to bus home but it was 99 degrees and they decided to Uber.  When the driver got there, he told them they have to be EIGHTEEN to use Uber.  No one has ever done that.  He flagged the account so now every driver will ask.  Thus, Teen Uber.

I drove back to retrieve them and they asked if I would drop them off at the Mall for back to school shopping.  And they would take the bus home.  Little did I know, the state highway between us and there was CLOSED all weekend.  Yes, I have GPS which we used but instead of taking 15-20 minutes, it was an hour because everyone else was on the side streets trying to get there.  Another hour to get back home.

They had great success, mainly shoes as they buy second hand clothing.  Uber has built in some great safety features on Uber Teen!

PIN Verification:
Before a teen can start their ride, they must provide the driver with a unique PIN, which the driver then enters into the app to confirm the ride.

RideCheck:
This feature uses sensors and GPS data to detect unexpected route deviations, stops, or early trip endings, and alerts the teen and their parent/guardian if such events occur.

Live Trip Tracking:
Parents can monitor the teen's ride in real-time, receiving notifications when the ride starts, ends, and when the teen arrives at their destination.

Enhanced Driver Vetting:
Uber for Teens only utilizes experienced, highly-rated drivers who have passed thorough background checks, according to Uber.

On-Trip Audio Recording:
Teens can opt to have their rides automatically recorded, with the audio encrypted and stored on their phone. The recording can only be accessed by Uber if an incident report is filed.

Emergency Assistance:
The app provides an in-app emergency button for contacting 911 and a safety incident reporting line.

So Gramma is a happy camper.  I don't like him taking the bus after dark.  I'm happy to pay for my peace of mind