"I consistently take a stroll around the corner from my parking spot."
@itsalwaysadrienne/TikTok(Licensed)
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An Uber Eats delivery driver recently shared her experience of a customer questioning why the app claimed she was delivering on a bike—when she clearly wasn’t.
In her video, which has garnered over 392,000 views at the time of writing, TikTok user Adrienne (@itsalwaysadrienne) laughs through the retelling of the encounter.
What led to the delivery driver's apprehension?
Adrienne had recently started delivering for Uber Eats, opting to use the platform to make some money before beginning her new job at Starbucks, as she explained in a previous video.
Nevertheless, she reports that she encountered a minor setback while attempting to create her account. Faced with complications regarding her car insurance, she opted for the “bike” option to proceed. Although this wasn’t her preferred choice, it enabled her to begin accepting orders; however, it also resulted in a few miscommunications.
In the video, Adrienne shared her most recent delivery blunder. "The customers are starting to notice my pattern," she said at the outset. She went on to describe how she had just made a drop-off at an apartment complex when a customer confronted her with an intriguing inquiry.
“She stepped away for just a moment, but then returned,” Adrienne recounted. “I was in the process of shutting my car door when I decided to open it once more, and she said, ‘Did you hear that people claim you’re making deliveries on a bike?’”
Surprised and unprepared, Adrienne quickly responded, “In that moment, I thought to myself, ‘Of course, I know. It was an accident. I’m not sure how to resolve it.’”
The customer was in stitches, explaining to Adrienne that she had intentionally come down just to see her riding the bike. They both enjoyed a hearty laugh together, with Adrienne calling the customer “hilarious” and a “real hoot.”
"It was driving me crazy," Adrienne exclaimed. "But this is the second time in just two days."
Is this practice typical among Uber Eats delivery drivers?
Although the frequency with which Uber Eats delivery drivers inaccurately choose "bike" as their transportation method while using a car is not precisely known, conversations on the internet indicate that this behavior is relatively widespread.
For instance, in a Reddit thread on r/AskUK, users speculated why some drivers might do this. One commenter wrote, “They do it because if you register a bike on the app you don’t have to prove a driving license and pay for insurance. Ultimately, they are driving uninsure[d], and therefore, yes, they are breaking the law.”
Similarly, a Quora user suggested that short-distance deliveries or issues with car documentation might drive this choice, noting, “Registering a car for Uber is like fighting Godzilla. So it’s easier to just register for bike.”
Uber itself may already be aware of this practice, as its website advises customers, “If the delivery person’s vehicle doesn’t match what’s shown in the app, let us know below.”
Although some may view the option of listing an alternative mode of transportation on delivery apps as a clever solution, it also brings about possible safety concerns.
For example, car drivers registered as bicyclists bypass key verifications like car insurance or proper vehicle registration. According to the Insurance Information Institute, driving without insurance not only violates the law but leaves both the driver and others on the road unprotected in the event of an accident.
Moreover, when delivery schedules are determined using bicycles but fulfilled by vehicles, drivers may experience pressure to adhere to impractical timelines, which can result in hazardous driving behaviors.
@itsalwaysadrienne ♬ original track – Adrienne
In the comments section, viewers shared their own experiences with Uber Eats that mirrored the situations discussed.
“One viewer remarked, 'It previously stated that my driver was on foot, but he was actually in a car.'”
"Watch out, Uber flagged me," another user shared, adding that it was due to finishing the deliveries "too quickly."
"One time it claimed that someone was bringing my order on a bicycle, but he was actually just walking," a third person remarked. "And I was like, ARE YOU SERIOUS? YOU WALKED?!?"
The Daily Dot has contacted Adrienne through direct messages on TikTok and Instagram, and has also emailed Uber for further communication.