By: Claudia Staut
Photo by Claudia Staut
Uber driver Fahad Warsame said Uber is necessary for Minneapolis and that a compromise should be made between Uber and the Minneapolis City Council.
The city of Minneapolis requested in March that the minimum wage of Uber and Lyft should be increased, according to AP News.
Warsame said the minimum wage for drivers should be raised because Uber isn’t paying their drivers who go far distances enough money.
Uber does not consider traffic when paying their drivers because a trip from Minneapolis to Shakopee can be extended to 45 minutes instead of 30 minutes with traffic, according to Warsame.
“It’s not going to be minimum wage,” Warsame said. “[Drivers] don’t make enough money because of traffic and the gas and the mileage.”
However, this does not affect Warsame as an Uber driver as he primarily does short trips which is more cost-effective, according to Warsame.
Warsame additionally said Minneapolis is asking for too much money from Uber.
“I want the city council to reconsider the money they're asking for which I think it's too much, to be honest,” Warsame said. “When they're asking for $1.40 min and a minute, plus the moment you pick up someone, they're gonna give you $0.90, but I mean, it is too much to ask for”
Along with being a driver, Warsame said he uses Uber as a passenger for convenience and safety.
“Most of the time when I don’t feel like driving or when the weather’s not good, I usually take Uber to be safe,” Warsame said. “I don’t want to damage my car or put myself in risk. Sometimes I order when it’s midnight. I don’t want to go outside. It’s not safe so I will order through Uber.”
Warsame said he thinks this is an important issue that should be resolved for the sake of the public.
“It’s going to affect every single person if they live in the city of Minneapolis,” Warsame said.
