Seattle workers rally as Uber and Lyft keep adding drivers to an already packed market

Seattle drivers say the market is flooded

Ever notice more rideshare cars than riders? The Drivers Union of Washington says that’s happening in Seattle, and drivers feel it in their daily paychecks. They say that too many drivers mean more empty miles as cars cruise around, hunting for the next ping.

The union’s analysis of Uber driver activity in Washington State found that a large share of on-app miles are driven without a passenger. Those extra miles can add traffic, waste fuel, and stretch a driver’s day with unpaid time. The union wants companies to slow new sign-ups until empty miles drop.

Why the union wants onboarding slowed

The Drivers Union of Washington isn’t calling for people to lose jobs. Instead, it asks Uber and Lyft to pause onboarding new drivers in Seattle while the city studies demand. The idea is simple: match the number of drivers to the number of trips.

The report links the deadheading problem to clogged streets and lower earnings. When drivers spend more time roaming, they burn more gas and fight more traffic for fewer paying rides. The union also wants rules that prevent sudden surges of new drivers flooding the same streets.

The data drivers say Seattle lacks

The Drivers Union of Washington says the biggest problem is what the public can’t see: detailed trip data. Without it, it’s hard to measure where empty miles happen, when demand spikes, and how pay is split. That’s why the union wants stronger reporting requirements.

Researchers affiliated with the Workers’ Algorithm Observatory supported the data work used in the union’s findings. They argue companies already track trips closely and could share more, as they do in Chicago. Better data could help leaders set fairer rules, protect drivers, and cut wasted miles without publicly hurting riders.

What deadheading looks like in real life

Deadheading is when a rideshare car is moving but not earning. It can mean driving to a pickup, circling downtown, or heading back from a drop-off with no passenger. It happens in every city, and the union’s Washington State Uber data shows the empty miles per trip rising steeply from 2019 to 2024.

The report compares 2019 and 2024 averages and finds that empty miles per trip rose significantly. More empty miles can mean more wear on cars and more time spent working for free. For riders, it can also mean busier streets and slower travel during rush hour.

Fun fact: One peer-reviewed study estimated that about 40.8% of ride-hail miles can be deadheading.

Why empty miles can raise pollution

When a car keeps moving, it burns energy even with no passengers—the report says that empty rideshare miles contribute to pollution in Seattle. More circling also creates more stop-and-go driving, which can boost emissions.

Congestion turns short trips into slow crawls, and longer travel times can increase fuel use and emissions, especially for gas cars. The union argues that cutting deadheading is a climate and traffic win, because fewer loops can make streets smoother for buses, bikes, and everybody. It can also cut noise and stress during the rush.

How congestion shows up on your commute

Empty rideshare miles can add cars to streets that already feel packed. Drivers may wait near downtown, airports, or nightlife areas, hoping to receive a request after a drop-off. That means more vehicles in the same lanes at the same time.

Extra traffic slows everyone, including deliveries and emergency responders, and it can also squeeze parking when drivers sit and wait. A longtime driver said downtown feels different now, with more cars idling and watching phones. The report links that behavior to a market with too many drivers.

What drivers say happened to earnings

One driver said he made about $55,000 in 2022 by doing 20 to 25 rides a day. He said his 2025 total fell to $24,000 while doing five to six rides. More drivers chasing the same riders can mean fewer trips per person.

That shift hits rent, groceries, and car payments each week. When rides are unsteady, drivers may stay online longer, hoping for a surge, because the apps do not pay for idle time. The union says the cost of waiting falls on drivers, not the companies.

Fun fact: Uber says earnings can vary by when, where, and how often someone drives.

Why the fare split sparks anger

Many riders assume most of the fare goes to the driver. Drivers say the company’s share can feel high and hard to predict, and the union has argued Uber’s average take in Seattle has climbed in recent years, though the exact split varies trip to trip.

One example shared by a driver was $125 ride where he received $55. Details vary, but drivers want more precise breakdowns of fees and take-home pay to plan. When you cannot see the math, it is hard to trust the platform, and it adds up.

Uber challenges the report’s findings

Uber says the report is flawed because it relies on a small driver sample. The report used self-reported tax data from 212 Uber drivers and compared it with records. That can show trends, but it may miss what happens across the full driver pool.

Uber also points to Washington’s driver pay rules, saying higher rider prices reduced demand and made earnings less steady. The union says oversupply is the bigger issue, because more drivers chasing fewer trips hurts earnings. Seattle now argues over data, rules, and fairness, and both sides want credibility.

Why prices and demand move together

When rides cost more, some people switch to transit or carpools. Uber says average fares in Seattle rose about 40% after minimum pay rules. If demand drops, drivers can end up with fewer paid rides, even if pay-per-mile rates improve.

That is why the union wants balance, not chaos; the report says driver counts have grown far faster than trip totals. A pause on onboarding would slow growth while leaders study real demand by season. If supply better matches demand, earnings, wait times, and prices may feel steadier.

Sharing data could change the debate

A public dashboard is a key request. A researcher pointed to Chicago, where detailed rideshare data is available, including where trips start and end and what people paid. Seattle does not have that same public window into rideshare patterns.

With better data, leaders could see peak hours and neighborhoods with long waits, and measure deadheading with more precision than yearly averages. The report admits it cannot fully capture seasonal spikes, like summer crowds or big games, today. Better reporting could support rules that flex with demand instead of guessing for everyone.

What a driver pause might look like

A pause on onboarding does not mean shutting rideshare down. It could mean a temporary cap on new drivers while Seattle reviews congestion and pay. The union says the current driver pool can handle significant demand, citing major events that were still served.

Rules could target empty miles by improving matching so drivers are guided toward real demand instead of wandering. Seattle could test staging areas near airports and hotspots to reduce circling and make pickups easier. The goal is fewer wasted miles and more paid miles for everyone.

If safety is on your mind, the related story explains Uber’s new feature that helps women feel safer and where it’s rolling out across 30 U.S. cities.

What to watch next in Seattle

This fight blends climate goals, traffic, and paychecks. Drivers want fair rules and better information, while companies warn that more rigid rules can raise prices and reduce ridership. City leaders may have to choose between quick fixes and slow, data-driven steps.

Watch two things: whether Seattle demands detailed data, and whether companies slow down onboarding. Also track rider prices and wait times during busy seasons, as they reflect the overall impact. If empty miles keep rising, calls for limits grow; if they fall, leaders may try lighter rules that still protect earnings.

If you’re curious how self-driving cars handle real-world rules, the related story explains why Waymo recalled 3,000 robotaxis after reports of them passing stopped school buses.

What do you think happens next when more drivers keep flooding an already packed market in Seattle? Share your thoughts and drop a comment.

This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.

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