A New Year’s resolution for riders

It’s always tough picking a New Year’s resolution and even tougher sticking to it. The trick is to go for something simple: how about becoming a 5-Star rider with Uber?

You can even start right now — open your Uber app, click on the menu icon in the top-left corner and look underneath your name. That’s where you’ll find your Uber rating, which is calculated as an average of all the ratings you’ve received (anonymously) from partner-drivers, based on a scale of 1 to 5 stars.

Even if you’ve already got a solid rating, there’s no reason not to reach for the stars! Here are five easy ways to start improving your rating going into the New Year and beyond:

For Uber partner-drivers, time is money, especially with the cold nights and seasonal holidays drawing in. When you request a ride, make sure you’re ready to go before they arrive. Don’t leave it until they’re at the door to find your wallet, lock the backdoor or round up your other passengers.

If you want to catch your ride, you’ve got to be in the right place at the right time. Be sure to double-check your pickup location before you request a ride, particularly if you’re relying on GPS to know where you are. You can change your pickup location ahead of time tapping “edit” next to it in the app.

Partner-drivers want good ratings too, so they will want to make sure you stay safe and comfortable, but you’ve got to do your part as well. Always wear your seatbelt and don’t try to cram extra people into the car. If you’ve got the full squad heading out, you can always order an extra car.

Not sure what to do with your rubbish? Your driver won’t know either, so make sure to clean up after yourself after your ride is over. For Uber partner-drivers, their cars are their workplaces, so try to respect their space. Don’t smoke or drink during the ride, and keep that takeaway bagged up until you get home.

It’s the season to be jolly, so be nice! It may seem obvious, but a little common courtesy goes a long way. The most common reason drivers rank riders fewer than five stars is a bad attitude. A simple: “Hello, how are you?” and a smile makes the ride more pleasant for everyone and can seal the deal on that perfect score.

Most people give up their New Year’s Resolutions in the first week, but we reckon you’ll have no trouble sticking to this one. Your score is created by averaging out all your rides, so it might take a little while to improve at first but follow our advice and you’ll be well on your way to making good on that resolution.