So You Wanna Be a Lyft King (or Queen) in NYC? Buckle Up, Buttercup, It's gonna be a Wait!
Ah, the Big Apple! Bright lights, big dreams... and apparently, big waitlists if you're looking to cruise the city as a Lyft driver. That's right, folks, becoming a ride-sharing Robin Hood in NYC ain't as easy as slapping a pink mustache on your car (although, that would be pretty darn entertaining).
Why the Wait, Wait? It's TLC Time, Baby!
The culprit behind this whole waiting game is a little something called the TLC, or the Taxi and Limousine Commission. Now, these folks aren't out to crush your entrepreneurial spirit (probably), they're just trying to keep the streets from becoming a chaotic circus of rideshare cars. Think of it as a VIP line for driving in the city that never sleeps.
So, How Long is the Waitlist, Anyway? ¯_(ツ)_/¯
Unfortunately, there's no magic answer here. The waitlist is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get (except it's definitely not chocolates). It could be a breezy couple of weeks, or it could turn into a full-on Netflix binge-worthy wait.
Lyft doesn't exactly advertise the waitlist times, probably because they don't want a stampede of people all trying to become Lyftistas at once. Imagine the chaos! Though, if you head over to the Lyft driver forums (because of course there are Lyft driver forums), you might find some war stories from fellow aspiring drivers about their waitlist experiences.
Here's the good news: While you wait, you can be prepping yourself for Lyft greatness. Get your car squeaky clean (passengers don't dig dirty Lyfts), familiarize yourself with the city's one-way streets (because nobody likes a lost driver), and maybe even practice your best "happy to help" customer service voice.
Is the Waitlist Worth It? You Decide!
Look, becoming a Lyft driver in NYC can be a fantastic gig. You get to be your own boss, set your own hours (well, within reason), and cruise around a city that's always buzzing. But, that waitlist can be a real buzzkill.
The final decision is yours, my friend. Do you have the patience of a saint (or at least a very patient driver)? Are you ready to rock a pink mustache (optional, but highly encouraged)? If so, then by all means, sign up for that waitlist and get ready to ride the Lyft wave (eventually).
In the meantime, maybe consider an Uber throne while you wait? Just sayin'.