On February 25-26, 2026, Uber and Lyft drivers in Seattle protested, demanding that the companies stop adding new drivers to a market they describe as severely "flooded".
The protest, organized by the Drivers Union, highlighted several key issues:
- Market Saturation: Drivers argue that the number of rideshare vehicles is increasing nearly seven times faster than trip demand.
- "Empty Miles": A report cited by the union found that the majority of miles driven are without a passenger, which increases traffic congestion and air pollution.
- Declining Income: Due to the oversupply of drivers, many are seeing drastically fewer ride requests, threatening their ability to make a living.
- The Demand: The union is urging Uber and Lyft to pause all new driver sign-ups until the market stabilizes.
Uber's Response
Uber pushed back on the findings, stating that the report relies on a very small, unrepresentative sample of drivers. The company argued that the decline in demand is caused by soaring fares—which they claim have risen by about 40% due to city-mandated driver-pay rules—making Seattle the most expensive rideshare market in the country.
Uber pushed back on the findings, stating that the report relies on a very small, unrepresentative sample of drivers. The company argued that the decline in demand is caused by soaring fares—which they claim have risen by about 40% due to city-mandated driver-pay rules—making Seattle the most expensive rideshare market in the country.
Contextual Factors
- High Costs: Seattle drivers are paid a minimum of $1.63 per mile and $0.70 per minute, or $6.12 per trip, which has driven up costs for consumers.
- No Regulatory Caps: While Seattle regulates how drivers are paid, there are currently no rules limiting how many drivers can operate on these platforms.
The protests took place at Uber’s engineering offices in downtown Seattle.
