VIP Uber transportation on Orcas Island
I am the only Uber driver on Orcas Island, and booking me is easy on the app ~ in fact, the best thing to do is schedule a drive ahead of time, whether it’s two weeks or two hours ahead. With ferries coming in at regular intervals and people needing rides at the same time, you will have a much better chance of securing a ride by scheduling it beforehand. (If your ferry or plane is running late, it is essential to cancel your original request and reschedule a drive at the revised time, as I will be unable to wait 30-60 minutes for a late ferry.) I often plan my day around scheduled requests, which reach me when I’m not even on the Uber app, whereas spontaneous requests only reach me when I’m logged into the app. A scheduled request is much more secure as well, seeing as I only have 15 seconds to respond to a spontaneous request. A final note: while you may find my email online and inquire about a ride, I am sometimes so busy that I do not have time to check email during the day. So again, the best thing to do is schedule a request ahead of time through the Uber app.
I have a 5-star Uber rating and have lived on the island for over 14 years, so you can ask for any tips or knowledge about where to go and what to expect during your drive.
Privacy & Confidentiality
I offer private VIP Uber transportation service for guests who value confidentiality while visiting Orcas Island. Whether you are a public figure, business executive, author, artist, or simply someone seeking a quiet, private getaway, you can expect discreet service in a new vehicle that blends in rather than one that draws attention.
I do not discuss my passengers, their itineraries, the places they visit, or the fact that they are on the island. Every guest is treated with the same level of discretion and respect, allowing you to enjoy Orcas Island without concern that your pick-up and drop-off locations will become local conversation. Whether you’re traveling to a private residence, a retreat, a wedding, a business meeting, a restaurant, a trailhead, or simply exploring the island, you can know that your journey will not be made into a public spectacle here on the island, online, or back on the mainland.
Inside knowledge when requesting an Uber on Orcas Island
If the Uber app says it is finding a driver for you and never actually shows my name, it has not found me. The automation is “learning my region,” as I’ve been told by customer service. It does not know that my region is surrounded by water, so requests are sometimes sent to drivers on other islands rather than to me, just as I receive umpteen Uber requests from San Juan Island that I decline all the time. Until you are given my information, you do not have an Uber driver on Orcas Island, since I am the only one here. Sometimes it will be “looking for a driver” until the moment you need to depart. If that happens and you are dropped like a hot potato, make a new request.
If your request does not find me, that means one of three things:
- The automation hasn’t found me
- I am driving other passengers, in which case I cannot accept your request so try again in 5-15 minutes when I’ll be available
- I am not currently “on” and am busy with other endeavors
The best way to ensure a ride is to schedule one ahead of time. When it appears in my app, I will either accept or decline it based on my schedule. Sometimes I have enough scheduled rides that I cannot accept spontaneous requests when they happen.
Why aren’t there more Uber drivers on Orcas Island?
I would surmise that other people have tried it and decided not to pursue it not only because the automation takes time to “learn their region” but also because Ubering here is unpredictable and spontaneous. Sometimes I go on and don’t get a request for 3-5 hours, sometimes I go on and have multiple requests at the same time and have to decline several of them.
I happen to love the spontaneity of it all and I have other projects I work on in the meantime, so the irregularity is enjoyable rather than frustrating.
How much goes to Uber and how much goes to the driver?
Generally, I tend to receive about 53% of the fare paid by the passenger. Tips are essential here, or it wouldn’t be a feasible line of work, considering time, gas, mileage, and wear and tear on the car. In a city, an Uber driver can drop off passengers and pick up new passengers a few streets away. On an island, it is very different. I often pick up passengers at the ferry and drop them off near Doe Bay (the other side of the island), which is 17 miles away, knowing that if my next request is at the ferry again, I will drive 17 miles back. I am not compensated for the time it takes me to get to the ferry for the first drive, for driving all the way back to the ferry for the second drive, nor for driving back home while waiting for the next request.
So far, I prefer using the Uber app over having my own driving service because it keeps things simple ~ I turn on the app when I want to drive and turn it off when I have other obligations. There are few communications in between, which allows me the time to work on other projects or be away from devices altogether.
Do I enjoy being an Uber driver?
I love it. Between publishing Life on Orcas Island and Life on Orcas Coloring Book, interviewing local people with fascinating stories on the local radio show Life on Orcas Island with Edee Kulper at the KIXP station in Eastsound, and being the only Uber driver on Orcas, it’s like being an island ambassador and sharing my love of the island with others.
Options when you can’t get an Uber
- Orcas Island Scenic Shuttle: (360) 298-8414
- Orcas Island Taxi Service: (360) 376-8294
- Car Rentals through OrcasCars.com
- Island Rides for residents in need of essential services who do not drive or have access to other transportation (360) 672-2201
