I know I know, a Nobel Peace Prize might seem like a bit of stretch, but hear me out nonetheless. And if you’re still not convinced after this read maybe a humanitarian award or at least a couple years of free gas may seem more reasonable.
They say not all heroes wear capes. Well, some of them actually drive for Uber and Lyft instead, but what good is a superhero without a cool superpower? If you ask me, Uber and Lyft drivers have some of the coolest super powers of all time – reducing the occurrence of drunk driving, DUIs and associated deaths – all at the palm of their hands. They faithfully answer to the thousands upon thousands of bat-signals piercing the sky night in and night out, 24-7, 365.
What effect does this luxury of having an easily accessible distress signal have on you? You get even more inebriated! (Don’t worry, though, you’ll regret the hangover in the morning). Regardless, you get to pour an extra drink or two and throw back a few more shots than normal while your friends sing along to songs as if they actually wrote them. In the end, it all equals great vibes with even greater people.
The party is just getting started because now you’re raging in some bar or club, singing at the top of your lungs, living life to the fullest and the establishment is loving it! Why? Because you’re mindlessly spending even more money on beverages that’ll have you looking at your bank account in shock the following morning (we’ve all been there…except me of course).
The catalyst in all this extra fun is the peace of mind in knowing you will safely reach your destination and make it back home in one piece. There is nothing in life more
priceless than peace of mind and it is complemented with the fact that you don’t have to look or pay for parking either. Talk about a 2-for-1 special.
Not only are Uber and Lyft drivers saving lives, they’re the modern-day Planeteers (that’s a Captain Planet reference for all you youngsters) doing their part in saving the earth as well. Let’s break down its ecological impact with simple mathematics since I’m no economics guru:
Carpooling equals fewer cars on the road, which equals less traffic. Less traffic equals less stress, road rage, exhaust and air pollution, reducing our carbon footprint. The more we reduce our carbon-footprint the less we add to the sources of global warming issue (I could go deeper, but you catch my drift). The rate of wear and tear on your personal car is also reduced, thus longer lead times for car maintenance, which means less money out of your pockets. Less traffic also reduces the wear and tear on our roads and highways, which lowers the frequency of construction work and tax dollars used for repairs.
Still not convinced?
Uber and Lyft also help us fulfill the age-old axiom to “stop and smell the roses.” As humans, we are so consumed with our fast-paced lifestyle that we rarely stop to truly enjoy the natural beauties of this world. It’s in this flaw of being deeply enamored with the strenuous complexities of the contemporary world that the obliviousness of our surroundings forms.
If you’re a Californian, like myself, you probably understand where I’m coming from. Do yourself a favor and call for a ride, especially on a workday, and see how much you notice about the very neighborhoods, artifacts, and botany you overlook on a daily basis. The time allotted to reflect and observe is a subtle and peaceful act for the beginning on any workday.
Was that enough to convince you a Nobel Peace Prize is well deserved? If not, that’s completely fine. The irony in all of this is my friend and I came up with this idea while waiting on…you guessed it…an Uber. Go figure.
Abdris Elba, B.S. in Advertising – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Ph.D. in Trolling is a SQL/BI developer, aspiring voiceover actor and living proof that the chicken indeed comes before the egg.
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