Atlanta

Need a ride? Metro Atlanta rideshare, delivery drivers seeing huge impacts from gas outage

By Justin Wilfon, WSB-TV
By Justin Wilfon, WSB-TV

ATLANTA — Many people in the metro Atlanta area rely on their cars to make a living, and the current gas outage is having massive impacts on those industries.

Because of fear of not being able to fill their tank back up, some drivers who use apps like Uber, Lyft and Door Dash are having to make the tough choice of whether or not to work.

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For those choosing not to drive, the gas outage is already costing them money.

“I filled up my tank last night and I haven’t driven today,” Uber driver Tommy Mather told Channel 2′s Justin Wilfon. “I’m sure the demand is high, but I don’t want to use the gas. So I’m not letting myself below a half a tank.”

Mather says not working today cost him between $200 and $300.

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Several other drivers say because many people aren’t wanting to use their gas, the outage has caused business to pick up.

“A lot of people are getting gas and going home and they haven’t had dinner, so they call Uber,” Uber Eats driver Caprice King. “So it’s really been beneficial for me because I’ve been making really good money in the past few days.”

Ron Brown, who runs Ron’s Appalachian Trail Shuttle, says the outage has not cost him any money, but has cost him time searching for stations with fuel.

“It’s long, it’s frustrating...trying to keep a schedule. It gets hard to do,” Brown said.

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With the pipeline getting turned back on, every driver Channel 2 Action News spoke to says they believe it will soon be business as usual.

Wilfon reached out to Uber and Lyft to see how the outage is impacting their overall business, but is still waiting to hear back.

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