The Impact of Covid-19 pandemic on Uber’s ridesharing activities
kaur, Gurpreet (2021)
kaur, Gurpreet
2021
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2021052611356
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2021052611356
Tiivistelmä
The recently hit Covid-19 pandemic has impacted the sharing economy platforms globally. The adversely affected ridesharing services by one such platform- Uber has been discussed in this research. For the current research, multiple information channels have been studied including the previous related literature. To validate the collected data, interviews are conducted with 2 Uber drivers and 4 Uber riders to analyze the overall impacts of Covid-19 on Uber riders and drivers. For analyzing the data, the Narrative Data Analysis method is used on the data collected in the form of statements by these interviewees. The reliability of data has been assured by cross-checking the results with the previous literature. A 9-themed framework including anxiety, cancellation, job loss, income reduction, social distance, hygiene and safety, backlash, overcoming strategy, and outcomes have been adopted to analyze these impacts on Uber drivers and Uber riders. Results show that there has been anxiety among riders for non-availability of Uber services and drivers due to the non-availability of work. As many people have lost their jobs due to the pandemic, the demand for Uber rides has fallen adversely. This has consequently impacted the income of Uber drivers. Many Uber riders have also been canceling their rides due to the fear of being contaminated by the coronavirus during the rides. Some riders have also been involved in backlashes with the drivers for not wearing masks properly or not sanitizing the vehicles. Thus, as an overcoming strategy, Uber ridesharing services keep a strict check on the formulated norms like wearing masks during rides, keeping distance with the riders, installation of separators between the front and back seat, and sanitization of cars before every ride. Thus, these norms have become an integral part of ridesharing now without which Uber rides seems to be impossible during the Covid-era.