I hopped into the back of Ghadiri’s car after a long night. It was his first day as a Lyft driver, and I was his very first customer. Before that, he worked as a taxi driver, but his experiences with New York City’s famous yellow cabs weren’t the greatest.
As a driver, he had to worry about the fees that came along with the upkeep and maintenance of his car. His biggest grievance, however, was not related to driving. Rather, it’s what he experienced as a customer that put him off.
If you’re familiar with the framework of Manhattan, you know how difficult it is to hail a cab, especially during rush hour. Now try doing to it as black man.
Ghadiri confided in me that taxis often speed right past him even though it is illegal to refuse a customer service. Because of this, he makes his white girlfriend flag down a cab whenever they are out together. He also tips a driver extra if he does manage to successfully hail a taxi on his own.
Hearing his story left me speechless in many ways. I don't think I've ever faced discrimination to that degree before, but I am well aware of how much it still exists in society today.
