The Rise of Side Hustles: Driving Lyft
In an average week, Roshannah Buffy Hendrick and her husband manage raising a family, running a Karate school, working a day job and driving Lyft whenever they can. Buffy primarily works as a massage therapist but the days when she can’t, she’s behind the wheel to help supplement their income.
“There were some days I couldn’t physically massage cause my hands and back were hurting, it was easier to drive,” said Hendrick.
The Hendrick family is one of the many families who is turning to the gig economy for employment. Mark Beal, a part-time lecturer who specializes in Public Relations at the Rutgers School of Communication and Information, has recognized the change in the average American’s working life.
“There is a huge shift right now, from what has traditionally been the 9–5pm to the gig economy. What used to be ‘I have to go to work and suffer there’ is now flexibility, ‘I can work virtually, I can work three or four jobs,” said Beal.
Last month, Uber released a commercial titled “Doors Are Always Opening”, telling the story of a father who was able to attend his son’s soccer game because of Uber’s flexible hours. Beal analyzes the targeted audience and message of the commercial.
“That message is not for necessarily you and I as a consumer, but it’s for people who are looking to work and live in today’s gig economy, where people have two or three side hustles to fit their lifestyle,” said Beal.
Hendrick finds that driving for Lyft fits her and her husband’s schedule, but she says the company hasn’t worked out all the kinks.
“There were times where my kids had to go to school so if they had to be up by seven o’clock, I had to do my last run by six cause I don’t know if the last six o’clock run is going to be an hour and I have to get back in time,” said Hendrick.
According to Hendrick, Lyft doesn’t give the driver the delivering address from the passenger until the passenger is in the car. For trips to New York, Hendrick said the tolls and gas prices were not included in the New Jersey Uber fares.
“Sometimes you don’t know where exactly you’re gonna go.”
Hustling is crucial for the Hendrick family to function and the gig economy appears to accommodate their needs — just not the whole trip.
