When you get tired cycling to work, or the weather takes a turn for the worse, sometimes, you gotta get an Uber!! In all seriousness, sometimes emergency strikes and you will not be able to cycle to work or home for whatever reason, your commute will be disrupted and you will need a lift. But…….
Can you bring your bike on Uber? And the answer is… YES. Well… almost Yes. Uber, at the time of writing this article, do not have a clear policy about taking bikes in their cars. The good news is that a lot of Uber drivers may still be willing to help you out!!
Whilst this is probably not the positive answer you were looking for, there is much hope. I personally have experience of taking my bike in an Uber and had a very helpful and accommodating driver who was willing to take me and my bike on our journey, but that’s the issue, it is at the discretion of the driver. We have some helpful tips below to help you out!
Whilst most cars you order through Uber will be large enough to accommodate a bike, you will most certainly have to convince your driver that it is a good idea to take you and your two wheeled friend to your final destination. In most cases this should not be an issue but it is worth reading our top tips.
How Can you Get your Bike on Uber?
As we said, a lot of Uber drivers will be happy to accommodate you and your bike, it is a fare after-all and in the competitive world of Uber, drivers will mostly be happy to help!! To make this a done deal, here are some top tips for smoothing the way with your Uber driver to ensure you get to where you need to be.
Inform Your Uber Driver that you have a Bike
To get your driver onside, and increase the chances he will take you and your bike, is to ensure you are upfront and honest with your driver, right from the off.
Once you have requested your Uber through the app, the next thing to do is make sure you quickly contact the driver and let them know you have a bike with you. You both need to be completely open to the fact that you want to put a potentially dirty bike (and sweaty human) in their nice shiny car.
Being honest with the driver allows them the option of picking you up or not. This means that your driver will not arrive, see the bike and cancel the fare, wasting both you and their valuable time.
Ideally, you will want to reassure the driver that you will not soil or damage their vehicle with your bike and so it is best to be prepared beforehand. Here are some top tips to smooth the way with the Uber driver.
Have a Protective Bag Ready to Protect the Uber
Have a bag to hand to cover the dirtiest parts of the bike i.e. chain, wheels and brakes. The key is to show the driver you are trying to protect his car.
You can buy robust bike protective covers, like this relatively inexpensive one from Didatecar on Amazon. These covers are reusable, machine washable and provide the perfect cover for your bike to help you convince your driver you can keep their car clean. These will fold nicely up into your backpack when you don’t need it and be ready for when the time comes.
These covers are also great if you store your bike in your house or office to ensure you don’t drip dirt and debris all over the floor so double us as a useful accessory.
Alternatively you can use a household bin liner which will do a job, but they do have a tendency to snag of pedals and other items on the bike making them more difficult to get around your bike. Bin liners also tear easily and so are not an ideal solution.
Remove Excess Dirt from the Bike so you don’t mess up the Car
Try your best to remove any large deposits of dirt from the bike, such as mud on the tyres and frame, and dry off any dripping oil.
The last thing your driver wants to do is clear lots of dirt out of their car that was stuck in your tyre tread. Be considerate and leave it outside!!
Remove Loose Items from the Bike
Take off anything you can from the bike, such as pumps, water bottles and lights to ensure the bike doesn’t scratch upholstery when loading it into the car. Removing of these items also ensures you can unload quickly at the destination and don’t misplace any of your loose items.
Strip the Bike Down to Fit in the Car
Be prepared to remove wheels, the seat and any other protruding items from the bike to ensure it will fit into the rear boot or will fit with adjustments to the cars rear seats.
With most modern commuter bikes, this will be a simple task of loosening the quick release mechanism on the wheel and removing it. Removing the front wheel will always be the easier option here. You will need a small multitool with Allen keys for removing the seat from the seat post but again it is a simple job.
Be Polite to Your Uber Driver
Above all, be polite to your driver, they are doing you a favour and are NOT obliged take you and your bike under current Uber policy. The car is their livelihood and if they don’t want to risk damaging it by taking a bike, then it is their prerogative.
Find a driver that is happy to take you and politely thank the drivers who choose not to. You may also consider giving them a gratiuity!!
Other Options for Transporting You and Your Bike
Take your Bike on a London Black Cab
London Black Cabs, or similar worldwide services, are perfect for transporting your bike. They are spacious and can fit a adult bike in without any problems and no need to dismantle. Unfortunately, as with Uber, there is no clear policy on this and it will be to the discretion of the driver once again, so similar tips given in this article apply.
Take your Bike on Train or Underground
Most train operators allow you to take bikes onto trains including underground services. They will always favour a folded bike which you shouldn’t have any issues with, after-all, its just like carrying a large bag.
Non-folded bikes are usually allowed free of charge outside of peak times. It will depend largely on the space in the train and most services have a specific carriage they would prefer you to stow your bike in. That being said, if the train is full then they have no obligation to make room for you so you could end up stranded at the station.
It is also worth noting that not all underground stations will allow bikes and not all stations have elevators so getting your bike trackside may be an issue.
I would advise you to check ahead prior to travelling.
Take your Bike on a Bus
Again, with buses, there will be a variation of rules for different operators and routes. The folded bike option will be the best here but some services will allow your non-folded bike on if it isn’t too busy,
Again, make sure you to check ahead prior to travelling.
Take CycleCab or Similar Service
Services are beginning to spring up that offer specialist transport for you and your bike so they can get you out of a tricky spot on your commute. Companies like Addison Lee offer a service call CycleCab and they will allow you to stow your bike in the back of cars, perfect to help out if the weather turns.
