I Mustache: Do You Even Lyft, Bro?

By Chris Arneson

A mustache ride used to only be something you could find in Cheesman Park after midnight. Now you may find yourself riding a mustache — a pink one, in fact — from Cap Hill all the way to the airport.

Lyft, a hip new ridesharing service, has been gaining popularity since its Denver launch in Sept. 2013, offering a decent gig for its drivers as well as a cheaper alternative to your everyday taxi service. The company works with community members who use their own cars, often adorned with a fuzzy pink mustache, to easily “lyft” people from one place to the next, using an app.

Sam Faktorow has been driving with Lyft since last June, but he has yet to find any other gay male drivers, just a few lesbians.

“If the topic of my sexuality comes up, it comes up,” Faktorow says. He recounts one instance when a girl getting into the car declared to her friends she knew he was gay from his picture.

Faktorow says one of his favorite rides was with a guy who flirted with him the whole night, then ended the trip with a kiss goodnight. Another time, he waited outside a dispensary quite a while for a passenger, who then offered to tip him with a little herb. Some girls invited him for pizza once.

“I’ve met a lot of great people,” he says. “Some of my riders even turned into friends.”

Occasionally though, passengers can be a little aggravating. Faktorow recalls one who made him uncomfortable by talking about slipping people roofies, so he kicked him to the curb.

“Most people don’t realize you’re allowed to kick someone out of your car for any reason,” he explains of Lyft’s policy.

On average, a Lyft driver can make around $100 or more a night just driving for a few hours, depending on demand. Faktorow says his strongest night was New Year’s Eve, when he made around $350.

On my way to interview Faktorow, I took Lyft to and from my Congress Park abode to his Cap Hill residence — just under two miles. The one-way fare totaled less than $7.

Truthfully, the pricing seems complicated, but the app does all the work for you. There’s a base charge of $1.13 with a trust and safety fee of $1.70. The cost per mile is $1.41, and it’s 17 cents for each minute. The minimum you must spend is $5 (which is easy to reach — or you should be walking). If you cancel your ride, you’ll still be charged $5. Before you can even use the app, you must load a credit card onto it.

Lyft also offers a Plus service for groups of six with a $7 minimum. The rest of the charges are just a few cents higher.

If you’ve never used Lyft before, you receive three “free” rides … basically $5 credits, so you’ll pay if you go more than a mile.

Once you request a driver, the app shows you their picture, name, and how long it will take for them to arrive — usually no more than 5-10 minutes. The app also gives you a picture and description of their car, which comes in handy on busier roads.

According to Lyft, you should be greeted with a fist-bump. Drivers rarely do this, though, Faktorow explains. (Imagine getting into a stranger’s car to be awkwardly greeted with a fist — no thanks.) Some drivers offer snacks, a phone charger, or an auxiliary cable to play your own tunes, if you’d like.

On my initial ride, I met Christopher, a Whittier resident who had already banked $250 that day. A driver since last September, he said he loves the freedom of the job, and he makes much more than those at an office job.

“You meet a lot of awesome people,” he says. “It’s easy to have a conversation.”

At the end of the ride, both drivers and passengers are able to rate one another on the app, from 1–5 stars, and leave a comment about their experience. Passengers can also add a tip on top of their fee.

Prior to my Lyft experience, I applied to be a driver, but I wasn’t qualified because my insurance is based in Wyoming. You must also have a vehicle newer than 2004 with a recent checkup from a mechanic.

Unfortunately, Faktorow says, driving for Lyft isn’t lucrative anymore because there are so many drivers. He also confesses that the business model is too complicated for him to fully understand.

On my return, I (coincidentally) rode with another Chris, who offered me control of the music immediately. An Aurora resident with a day job in the Tech Center, he usually drives 3–4 nights a week, Thursday through Sunday, and averages about $150 a night. Like other drivers, Chris loves getting to know his passengers.

“If you do it right, you can make a friend along the way,” he says.