Uber drivers held a protest around the Detroit International Airport Monday night in response to extremely high gas prices. Local police were ultimately called to help keep the situation calm and instructed Uber drivers they could not protest at the airport.
Dozens of Uber drivers rallied together to protest the dramatic increase in gas prices. The ride-sharing drivers held their protest at the Detroit International Airport in hopes of getting Uber’s attention to pass on more of the increased fuel charges to riders.
According to Click On Detroit, a local news agency in Detroit, Uber drivers in the area only get $1.20 per mile and it’s just not enough to cover their costs. One Uber driver, Ellis Paces, told Click On Detroit, “A lot of the Uber drivers are out because we are not getting any money. They’re paying us like a $1.20 per mile, and gas is high. We do not receive anything extra. No bonus, no nothing. The drivers are tired of it.”
Local authorities were dispatched to the scene of the protest and threatened to tow or evict drivers if they didn’t leave, letting drivers know they couldn’t stay at the property if they didn’t have a pick up.
As gas prices have risen to all-time highs in part thanks to inflation, the war in Ukraine, and supply chain factors, ride-sharing drivers have been hit hard.
The average gas price in Detroit, as of today, is $5.41 according to AAA, and has increased from $3.01 a year ago. In some regions, ride-sharing or food delivery companies will pass on fuel surcharges to consumers.
