Can I put my high schooler in an Uber?

[Anonymous]

Can she go inside the school 20 minutes early? She won't be standing outside? Then take her. She can learn to use those 20 minutes to check assignments, get some things done, drop off books at the library, get in an extra 20 minutes studying before a test that day, or whatever.

I figure she is balking at having to get up, get ready and go out the door earlier. Is that the case? It's not fun or easy for high schoolers, who really do need their sleep, but I would not spend the money on an Uber or cab.

Re: Uber, do an online search on anything like "Uber driver crime" and you will find many, many cases around the country of Uber drivers committing assault on passengers or having other criminal issues. Uber tries to say they've improved security and background checks etc. but I would not put my teen in one. Somehow Uber-lovers manage to say over and over how "my kid takes it and it's fine" or use the argument that "all the teens at my kid's school do it" but that doesn't wash with me. It's still putting your kid into a car with a total stranger who has had less background checking than most cabbies have to get. Maybe if you're determined not to drive your kid, you can find one driver (maybe a woman driver, as a PP noted) who will do the ride every single day, and be effectively your chauffeur with whom you can form a relationship. But really, I'd tell my own DD in this case that she had a good opportunity to be ready for the school day and have extra study time etc. and nope, I wasn't sinking money into a daily driver other than me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can she go inside the school 20 minutes early? She won't be standing outside? Then take her. She can learn to use those 20 minutes to check assignments, get some things done, drop off books at the library, get in an extra 20 minutes studying before a test that day, or whatever.

I figure she is balking at having to get up, get ready and go out the door earlier. Is that the case? It's not fun or easy for high schoolers, who really do need their sleep, but I would not spend the money on an Uber or cab.

Re: Uber, do an online search on anything like "Uber driver crime" and you will find many, many cases around the country of Uber drivers committing assault on passengers or having other criminal issues. Uber tries to say they've improved security and background checks etc. but I would not put my teen in one. Somehow Uber-lovers manage to say over and over how "my kid takes it and it's fine" or use the argument that "all the teens at my kid's school do it" but that doesn't wash with me. It's still putting your kid into a car with a total stranger who has had less background checking than most cabbies have to get. Maybe if you're determined not to drive your kid, you can find one driver (maybe a woman driver, as a PP noted) who will do the ride every single day, and be effectively your chauffeur with whom you can form a relationship. But really, I'd tell my own DD in this case that she had a good opportunity to be ready for the school day and have extra study time etc. and nope, I wasn't sinking money into a daily driver other than me.

And most crime is committed by people the victim knows. We’ve completely lost our ability as a society to assess risk. We read a Facebook anecdote about some girl 600 miles away who was assaaulted by uber driver and freak out. Or we hear that someone once assualted a kid in the bathroom, so we can’t let our kids go to the washroom alone. The biggest risks come from people connected to the family or people kids meet online.

[Anonymous]

As others have said, you get a detailed record of the car and the driver with Uber/Lyft and there is not really any reason to take photos. With cabs you may get that info but the notion that you should get to know the dispatcher . . .really? Just like getting to know your banker I guess. And the program in NY that was solely designed for women was disbanded as it was thought to be illegal, and it would likewise be illegal to ask for a woman or a white dude to drive you, or for that matter, for the driver to request sex or race-based pickup. There can certainly be problems with Uber and Lyft but when they are, generally pretty easy to trace.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can she go inside the school 20 minutes early? She won't be standing outside? Then take her. She can learn to use those 20 minutes to check assignments, get some things done, drop off books at the library, get in an extra 20 minutes studying before a test that day, or whatever.

I figure she is balking at having to get up, get ready and go out the door earlier. Is that the case? It's not fun or easy for high schoolers, who really do need their sleep, but I would not spend the money on an Uber or cab.

Re: Uber, do an online search on anything like "Uber driver crime" and you will find many, many cases around the country of Uber drivers committing assault on passengers or having other criminal issues. Uber tries to say they've improved security and background checks etc. but I would not put my teen in one. Somehow Uber-lovers manage to say over and over how "my kid takes it and it's fine" or use the argument that "all the teens at my kid's school do it" but that doesn't wash with me. It's still putting your kid into a car with a total stranger who has had less background checking than most cabbies have to get. Maybe if you're determined not to drive your kid, you can find one driver (maybe a woman driver, as a PP noted) who will do the ride every single day, and be effectively your chauffeur with whom you can form a relationship. But really, I'd tell my own DD in this case that she had a good opportunity to be ready for the school day and have extra study time etc. and nope, I wasn't sinking money into a daily driver other than me.

And most crime is committed by people the victim knows. We’ve completely lost our ability as a society to assess risk. We read a Facebook anecdote about some girl 600 miles away who was assaaulted by uber driver and freak out. Or we hear that someone once assualted a kid in the bathroom, so we can’t let our kids go to the washroom alone. The biggest risks come from people connected to the family or people kids meet online.

Well, if getting to school 20 minutes early is dangerous for a HS kid then there are an awful lot of HS kids living in danger. Many, many kids get to school 15/20 minutes early.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unless you are dropping her off 20 minutes before the school opens the doors, it seems ridiculous. My son takes a bus to public school and it drops him off 35 to 40 minutes before classes start. It's fine - he just hangs out with his friends.

I don't mind him using Uber and Lyft occasionally, but not on a daily basis for his convenience.

Exactly. Is she getting there 20 minutes before the bell rings like many kids do or is she getting there 20 minutes before the doors open? It makes a difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can she go inside the school 20 minutes early? She won't be standing outside? Then take her. She can learn to use those 20 minutes to check assignments, get some things done, drop off books at the library, get in an extra 20 minutes studying before a test that day, or whatever.

I figure she is balking at having to get up, get ready and go out the door earlier. Is that the case? It's not fun or easy for high schoolers, who really do need their sleep, but I would not spend the money on an Uber or cab.

Re: Uber, do an online search on anything like "Uber driver crime" and you will find many, many cases around the country of Uber drivers committing assault on passengers or having other criminal issues. Uber tries to say they've improved security and background checks etc. but I would not put my teen in one. Somehow Uber-lovers manage to say over and over how "my kid takes it and it's fine" or use the argument that "all the teens at my kid's school do it" but that doesn't wash with me. It's still putting your kid into a car with a total stranger who has had less background checking than most cabbies have to get. Maybe if you're determined not to drive your kid, you can find one driver (maybe a woman driver, as a PP noted) who will do the ride every single day, and be effectively your chauffeur with whom you can form a relationship. But really, I'd tell my own DD in this case that she had a good opportunity to be ready for the school day and have extra study time etc. and nope, I wasn't sinking money into a daily driver other than me.

And most crime is committed by people the victim knows. We’ve completely lost our ability as a society to assess risk. We read a Facebook anecdote about some girl 600 miles away who was assaaulted by uber driver and freak out. Or we hear that someone once assualted a kid in the bathroom, so we can’t let our kids go to the washroom alone. The biggest risks come from people connected to the family or people kids meet online.

Well, if getting to school 20 minutes early is dangerous for a HS kid then there are an awful lot of HS kids living in danger. Many, many kids get to school 15/20 minutes early.

PP here - I think it’s crazy to pay for a ride so the daughter doesn’t get to school 20 minutes early, but it’s about the cost and the daughter’s apparent inflexibility. I am separately pushing back against the idea that riding in an uber is intolerable dangerous. Statistically speaking, a high school girl is much more likely to be the victim of a boyfriend, classmate, teacher, or family friend than an Uber driver. I see our inability to properly assess risk as one of society’s biggest problems.

[Anonymous]

If there is some reason why getting to school 20 minutes earlier would actually cause her real & meaningful hardship & there are no other viable options besides paying for her to be driven to school each day, you should at least use Lyft instead of Uber. The company has a much better reputation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can she go inside the school 20 minutes early? She won't be standing outside? Then take her. She can learn to use those 20 minutes to check assignments, get some things done, drop off books at the library, get in an extra 20 minutes studying before a test that day, or whatever.

I figure she is balking at having to get up, get ready and go out the door earlier. Is that the case? It's not fun or easy for high schoolers, who really do need their sleep, but I would not spend the money on an Uber or cab.

Re: Uber, do an online search on anything like "Uber driver crime" and you will find many, many cases around the country of Uber drivers committing assault on passengers or having other criminal issues. Uber tries to say they've improved security and background checks etc. but I would not put my teen in one. Somehow Uber-lovers manage to say over and over how "my kid takes it and it's fine" or use the argument that "all the teens at my kid's school do it" but that doesn't wash with me. It's still putting your kid into a car with a total stranger who has had less background checking than most cabbies have to get. Maybe if you're determined not to drive your kid, you can find one driver (maybe a woman driver, as a PP noted) who will do the ride every single day, and be effectively your chauffeur with whom you can form a relationship. But really, I'd tell my own DD in this case that she had a good opportunity to be ready for the school day and have extra study time etc. and nope, I wasn't sinking money into a daily driver other than me.

And most crime is committed by people the victim knows. We’ve completely lost our ability as a society to assess risk. We read a Facebook anecdote about some girl 600 miles away who was assaaulted by uber driver and freak out. Or we hear that someone once assualted a kid in the bathroom, so we can’t let our kids go to the washroom alone. The biggest risks come from people connected to the family or people kids meet online.

Well, if getting to school 20 minutes early is dangerous for a HS kid then there are an awful lot of HS kids living in danger. Many, many kids get to school 15/20 minutes early.

PP here - I think it’s crazy to pay for a ride so the daughter doesn’t get to school 20 minutes early, but it’s about the cost and the daughter’s apparent inflexibility. I am separately pushing back against the idea that riding in an uber is intolerable dangerous. Statistically speaking, a high school girl is much more likely to be the victim of a boyfriend, classmate, teacher, or family friend than an Uber driver. I see our inability to properly assess risk as one of society’s biggest problems.

Eh, she'll have time to go to her locker, time to visit a teacher to clarify a homework problem that she had trouble with, she'll have time to go to the ladies room before school starts. She'll do o.k. The uber driver would likely get her there 10 minutes early anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:you stuck in "the 20 minutes early" because you know what we're going to say...make her suck it up. An uber every day because she can't go 20 min. early? How much will that cost you?

My exact reaction. Suck it up and take the bus. It’s only 20 minutes.

[Anonymous]

Seriously? I got to school half an hour early every day during high school because my dad dropped me off on his way to work. She needs to suck it up and just go 20 mins early when it is convenient for YOU.

[Anonymous]

You really want some Uber driver to know where your daughter lives?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My middle and high school children use uber. It's fine.

+1. We've been doing this for a while now; no issues so far.

[Anonymous]

What about carpooling with a classmate? If you don't live close to one of her friends, maybe you could drop off at the classmate's house on the way and offer to reciprocate with rides on evenings/weekends when you can

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can she go inside the school 20 minutes early? She won't be standing outside? Then take her. She can learn to use those 20 minutes to check assignments, get some things done, drop off books at the library, get in an extra 20 minutes studying before a test that day, or whatever.

I figure she is balking at having to get up, get ready and go out the door earlier. Is that the case? It's not fun or easy for high schoolers, who really do need their sleep, but I would not spend the money on an Uber or cab.

Re: Uber, do an online search on anything like "Uber driver crime" and you will find many, many cases around the country of Uber drivers committing assault on passengers or having other criminal issues. Uber tries to say they've improved security and background checks etc. but I would not put my teen in one. Somehow Uber-lovers manage to say over and over how "my kid takes it and it's fine" or use the argument that "all the teens at my kid's school do it" but that doesn't wash with me. It's still putting your kid into a car with a total stranger who has had less background checking than most cabbies have to get. Maybe if you're determined not to drive your kid, you can find one driver (maybe a woman driver, as a PP noted) who will do the ride every single day, and be effectively your chauffeur with whom you can form a relationship. But really, I'd tell my own DD in this case that she had a good opportunity to be ready for the school day and have extra study time etc. and nope, I wasn't sinking money into a daily driver other than me.

And most crime is committed by people the victim knows. We’ve completely lost our ability as a society to assess risk. We read a Facebook anecdote about some girl 600 miles away who was assaaulted by uber driver and freak out. Or we hear that someone once assualted a kid in the bathroom, so we can’t let our kids go to the washroom alone. The biggest risks come from people connected to the family or people kids meet online.

Well, if getting to school 20 minutes early is dangerous for a HS kid then there are an awful lot of HS kids living in danger. Many, many kids get to school 15/20 minutes early.

PP here - I think it’s crazy to pay for a ride so the daughter doesn’t get to school 20 minutes early, but it’s about the cost and the daughter’s apparent inflexibility. I am separately pushing back against the idea that riding in an uber is intolerable dangerous. Statistically speaking, a high school girl is much more likely to be the victim of a boyfriend, classmate, teacher, or family friend than an Uber driver. I see our inability to properly assess risk as one of society’s biggest problems.

Eh, she'll have time to go to her locker, time to visit a teacher to clarify a homework problem that she had trouble with, she'll have time to go to the ladies room before school starts. She'll do o.k. The uber driver would likely get her there 10 minutes early anyway.

Reading is a lost art.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I let my son but would not with my daughter.

Why your son but not your daughter?