Downtown Seattle was gripped with a mass shooting on Wednesday evening that killed one and injured several near a McDonald’s. Amid this crisis, when people were likely desperate to get out of the situation, Uber and Lyft reportedly surged their prices.
Videos by those in and around the neighborhood show people on the street in a set of panic, scurrying into safety, and some deserted streets in the aftermath. The police are on the lookout for multiple shooters, according to WQAD8.
Was just a shooting in downtown Seattle. McDonald’s on 3rd/pine. Multiple victims #seattleshooting #seattle pic.twitter.com/6Gb2aWeu7a
— 🄴🄺 (@alaskangeles) January 23, 2020
People shared their Uber and Lyft grievances on social media with screenshots showing high prices for short rides.
The surge pricing by UBER at a time when people are literally trying to escape with their lives is super f’ed up#seattleshooting pic.twitter.com/2kdmSuKa0R
— The Serfs (@theserfstv) January 23, 2020
Hey @Uber & @lyft. Next time there is a crisis like the mass shooting that happened earlier in dtown Seattle. How about you don’t surge your prices to the people who are trying to get home safe. 😤 IG:@j_lane#MassShooting #seattleshooting #Seattle pic.twitter.com/BDZPtKwMHV
— Will Frometa (@_froto) January 23, 2020
https://twitter.com/catherineshakes/status/1220211309649649667?s=20
“My son and his gf were in downtown #Seattle tonight trying to escape w/ their life but you decide to profit off of tragedy,” tweeted Jennifer W-Fields. She did not immediately respond to the Daily Dot’s request for comment.
Hey @Uber – Fuck you. My son and his gf were in downtown #Seattle tonight trying to escape w/ their life but you decide to profit off of tragedy #seattleshooting pic.twitter.com/mpRvoygxrO
— Jennifer W-Fields (@JennifWFields) January 23, 2020
https://twitter.com/quickteamchris/status/1220181588471762947?s=20
https://twitter.com/pulkit2911/status/1220178822227644417?s=20
Some showed prices as high as $65 or $80 for an Uber Pool or Lyft Share, which are the most cost-efficient ride-hailing options on the platforms.
@Uber’s surge pricing during #seattleshooting today… 😒 pic.twitter.com/9BWJUFXy0M
— Dan Lear (@rightbrainlaw) January 23, 2020
i would like a crumb of context as to how much your usual fare is to judge how much more than usual it increased? i’ll still be deleting lyft because of this, and they’ll no longer be receiving my business. #seattleshooting #lyft #whatthefrick https://t.co/nDhCt8sbUf
— MotherBurrito (@Mother_Burrito) January 23, 2020
https://twitter.com/FaDed_Cerberus/status/1220181128197308417
Good old @Uber, always ready to profit out of a tragedy. #seattleshooting pic.twitter.com/xjRDXUVSuU
— Jason Wiltshire (@JasonWiltshire) January 23, 2020
According to a 2018 report in the Stranger, a Seattle bi-weekly, Uber often charges $1.35 per mile. According to that calculation, the distance from 4th Avenue in Seattle to W Bellueve, as seen in Wiltshire’s tweet, which is 11.2 miles, would cost about $15.2. That’s one-fourth the price reported on the Uber app Wednesday.
@Uber you should be ashamed of yourselves. Using surge prices after a mass shooting is real shitty. #seattleshooting
— 12thwoman💙🏈💚 (@LoveMyHawks12) January 23, 2020
https://twitter.com/Skarerika/status/1220207396590481408?s=20
One person even suggested that a crisis situation like this should’ve encouraged Uber to provide free rides instead.
@Uber this would’ve been an opportune time to offer free rides as a public service during a tragedy. #SeattleShooting Very lame of you to do the exact opposite. https://t.co/cEEcFmRVjT
— Twain’s Melon 🌹 (@ChuckRoss33) January 23, 2020
Ride-hailing apps can automatically surge during high-demand hours.
Others on Twitter noted that Uber drivers arriving at the scene would be putting their lives at risk for operating in an area with an ongoing situation.
https://twitter.com/TurdFer78982404/status/1220250315095711744?s=20
YEAH THOSE DRIVERS SHOULD PUT THEMSELVES AT RISK FOR FREE
— President Dr RollerGator MVIP PhD (@drrollergator) January 23, 2020
Nice. You want Uber drivers to risk their lives when a shooter is on the loose. Did it ever occur to you that Uber is actually allowing their drivers to decline rides in the middle of the crime scene, meaning even fewer drivers are available.
— L’emmy Go (@scooter664) January 23, 2020
An Uber spokesperson told the Daily Dot that the company “capped surge just after 6 when we became aware of the incident (for the area about a mile radius from where the incident occurred).”
According to its emergency policies, Uber refunds users who may have been charged during a surge in a crisis situation. It isn’t clear what measures Uber is taking to ensure users are aware of this policy, and Uber did not respond to a follow-up inquiry about this.
Update 3:31pm CT, Jan. 23: In a statement to the Daily Dot on Thursday afternoon, Lyft said surge pricing is “automatically enabled” during increased demand but, after news of the shooting, ride prices were capped.
“The shooting in Seattle is tragic, and our thoughts are with the victims and their families,” Lyft’s statement said. “We plan to reimburse or credit users in the surrounding area who were affected by this increased pricing.”
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