Lyft’s head of product for autonomous driving, Taggart Matthiesen has stated in an interview on Converge (podcast on The Verge) that Lyft is considering offering ‘Zen Mode’. Zen mode is basically just code word for telling the driver you’re not interested in talking for whatever reason. Unfortunately it doesn’t seem like something Lyft plans to roll out anytime soon:
I think it’s interesting. At some point, we may play around with that idea, but that’s unfortunately not a feature at this point.
I want something like this badly. Sometimes I want to talk to my driver, sometimes I haven’t slept for 36 hours or need to answer some e-mails on my phone. I’d also like drivers to have the same option (e.g maybe they can toggle something and would only connect with other riders that either wanted zen mode or didn’t care). Lyft needs to stop considering this option and just do it already. Whatever ride sharing service does this first will have my business whenever I don’t want to talk.
Hat tip to TPG
People don’t want to tell their driver to stop talking because it’s rude, but Zen Mode is just as rude.
I would like zen mode for everything. Dutch Bros is the worst. Solid coffee and open 24/7 but I can’t go there without some 19 year old pretending they’re my best friend for 3 minutes. Just give me my coffee and shut up.
This is mainly an issue for women, not men. That is why many of the comments below written by men seem so dismissive. Most uber drivers are men so they tend to be a lot chattier with their female customers. My female friends often comment about uber drivers acting overly friendly / flirty during a ride. Sometimes they enjoy the attention, but more often than not they just want to get from point A to point B, not socialize with a random guy driving them. Telling the driver that you aren’t interested in talking to them as a woman can be awkward, because you don’t want to be seen as a “bitch.” One of my friends always brings headphones when taking an uber, not because she wants to listen to music, but rather to signal she doesn’t want to talk.
Just a little perspective that I think is being missed here.
Good perspective! Thanks for sharing
How about putting yoursef into driver seat someday? Ya all need for other ppl feeling as well. And stop having that mentality that you pay for it, so you can have what the f ever you wanted. No wonder if this shxx ever roll out, many of you will be kicked out of the car because of hurting drivers’s feeling. This is more or less like:”can you just shut the f*** up?”
I don’t have an issue if drivers want to opt out of taking zen mode rides. That being said as a customer I shouldn’t have to take to a driver if I don’t want to.
“stop having that mentality that you pay for it, so you can have what the f ever you wanted”
As Uber says, you’re “Everyone’s private driver”. So yes, as my driver I can make requests about my ride I’d make to a chauffeur. Like it be hotter, colder, certain music be played or not. Or that you generally not make chitchat. Nothing wrong with that.
Putting myself into the driver seat, it goes both ways. Some drivers don’t like to talk and would rather focus on driving.
I don’t know why you seem so passionate about this issue.
How cute, Lyft. Make it sound like a spiritual thing, when all you are doing is encouraging more anti-social behavior.
Add this to airports, restaurants, shopping experience too.
It would definitely be a step away from friendly ride sharing and a move toward a “you’re my hired driver, shut up and drive”.
I can’t say I wouldn’t *ever* use it, but I like to interact with humanity.
Just my 2c.
Just to give you guys some feedback… I’m a 2 year rideshare driver and a ton of passengers will rate me poorly if I don’t have a conversation. Others want me to shut the hell up. With experience comes the ability to figure out who is who and I easily adapt, but a lot of drivers are new or just don’t have that sort of people skills. As a rider, I’ve said to drivers before, “Hey man, sorry, but I don’t really feel like talking right now. Hope that’s ok.” And that usually gets the job done. If someone said that to me, I’d be totally cool with it. If your driver starts a conversation and you don’t want to, try that phrase out, and I imagine it should work just fine.
I’m with you on that, Rob. I get that the desire may not always be there to chat, but as you said, riders or drivers can always quickly communicate this verbally to the other person in the car; it takes mere moments and the honesty would be welcome. What I am personally opposed to is moving towards a state in which we are so dependent on technology to do the talking for us that we are no longer capable of nuance in communication and are no longer capable of enduring the occasional discomfort of being a human being.
The problem is that some people are uncomfortable saying they don’t want to chat, as it can be perceived as rude.
So, you have someone who doesn’t want to talk – and you want to force them to talk in order to not talk? And that’s “honesty”? Odd.
Yeah what you said makes sense but this mode would make it easier for drivers and riders
Maybe just let the driver know you’re not interested in chatting? A ‘Zen Mode’ toggle seems so passive-aggressive. Best case is a driver who’s emotionally aware enough to recognize when a passenger does and does not want to talk, but in any case I say be direct when warranted.
I don’t see how it’s passive aggressive, I’m just letting them know what I want without the awkwardness of them trying to work it out themselves. Makes it easier for both parties.
Honestly, it sounds like the easiest tip in the world; just don’t say anything
I find that if you don’t respond to anything they say, they shut up.
Yeah I am way too polite/awkward to do something like this.
Just pretend your English is poor. 🙂