It’s late. You’re tired. You just want to get home.
You open your rideshare app, and there it is – the dreaded surge.
(It’s a moment every experienced rider knows too well.)
That $15 ride you took a few hours ago is now $60. SIXTY BUCKS! You sigh, accept the price, and tell yourself, “Well, at least my driver will make extra for driving me home late at night.”
But here’s the truth: they won’t. Or, at least not much.
And that’s not a glitch in the system – it is the system.
The surge illusion
Surge pricing was sold to the public as a simple supply-and-demand equation. More riders needing trips means higher prices that reward drivers for showing up when needed.
But in reality? Surge pricing has quietly become a $200 billion profit center for rideshare companies. Riders pay more. But drivers only earn a little more. It’s the platform that gobbles up the difference.
Here’s the math the big rideshare companies don’t want you to see:
- A “4x surge” means you pay 400% more.
- Drivers typically see only 10–15% of that increase.
- The platform keeps the other 70% – or more – simply by raising the fare, but not substantially raising the driver’s share.
And that higher charge doesn’t result in extra safety, improved service, or investment back into your community.
Just higher prices wrapped in confusing algorithms.
Who pays the real price?
Two groups:
Riders
You pay unpredictable, often outrageous fares. You never really know what a ride will cost – and that lack of control eats away at your trust.
Drivers
You assume they’re being rewarded for driving late, or in busy times. In reality, many make less than minimum wage after expenses. They don’t see your surge dollars. They see frustration.
The result? A system that leaves riders feeling squeezed and drivers feeling invisible. A system built on everything but fairness.
The PikUP Pledge: A fair system is not too much to ask
We built PikUP after hearing thousands of stories just like this. Riders being gouged. Drivers feeling left behind.
So we started with a simple question: What if fairness wasn’t a feature – but the foundation?
Here’s how we’re fixing the equation:
1. No surge. Ever.
Your price is your price. Whether it’s 2 p.m. on a Tuesday or 1 a.m. after a concert, you get predictable, transparent fares that are up to 40% lower than the other guys.
2. Drivers earn fairly, with guaranteed higher pay
PikUP drivers earn 100% higher net income than current national rideshare averages – guaranteed. No games, no hidden cuts, no chasing bonuses just to break even.
3. Transparency you can feel good about
Every fare is simple. Every dollar is clear. Every ride is recorded for safety. Riders and drivers know exactly what they’re paying for and what they’re earning – because transparency builds trust.
This isn’t just another rideshare alternative – it’s a reset
No more bracing yourself before opening your rideshare app. No more drivers sacrificing their dignity to earn a living.
PikUP exists to end the surge-pricing shell game and give both riders and drivers something the industry has forgotten — a fair chance.
CTA: Join the rideshare revolution. Reserve your spot on the PikUP landing page.Ride fair. Ride safe. Ride PikUP.
