A Fair and Affordable Rideshare Alternative in Colorado
By Mohamed Awaleh
The tendency of certain individuals to accept undignified working conditions has long been a source of confusion for me. Years of observing people tolerate abusive behavior from employers or companies have left me perplexed.
The struggles of Denver's cab industry in the 1990s and early 2000s draw striking parallels with the current treatment of drivers by major rideshare companies. Our efforts to unionize and negotiate leases were met with resistance from lobbyists.
A similar pattern of exploitation has emerged among rideshare drivers in Colorado and across the nation. Fortunately, an alternative solution exists in Colorado - Drivers Cooperative Colorado- a driver-owned co-op offering 80% of the trip fare to drivers. Established by local drivers, this cooperative seeks to provide drivers with justice and better serve their communities.
Despite the availability of this alternative, many drivers continue to drive for Uber and Lyft while expressing their dissatisfaction about exploitation from them, inadvertently enriching shareholders who demonstrate little concern for their well-being. What motivates them then to continue supporting these companies who careless about them? That’s a discussion for another day.
Mohamed Awaleh is an author, freelance writer and former publisher of monthly community newspaper in Ottawa, Canada, and a long time political activist in Denver, Colorado.
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