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A28 u.s. news
Dialuna 14 September 2020

Poll: Pandemic shifts how consumers use gig companies

The changing sentiments on
ride-hailing and delivery are
reflected in recent earnings
for companies in those spac-
es. Uber and Lyft lost a com-
bined $2.2 billion in the sec-
ond quarter as people shied
away from their services.
Bookings in Uber’s mobility
business declined 73% and
the company laid off a quar-
ter of its workforce. Uber’s
food delivery business more
than doubled its revenue
compared to last year, but it
didn’t turn a profit. In April,
Lyft’s rides were down 75%
compared to the same time
last year, and the company
said it was laying off 17% of
its workforce.

Grubhub’s average daily
orders jumped 32% in the
second quarter as diners or-
dered in, but it lost money
as it spent heavily to prop up
struggling restaurants and
protect drivers.
The survey also weighed
concerns for gig workers.
Democrats were more likely
than Republicans to express
a lack confidence in safe
working conditions for ride-
hailing and delivery drivers.
(AP) — When ride-hailing ing ride-hailing and delivery grocery delivery services than der in, and he prefers to pick Overall, 35% of Americans
heavyweights Uber and services have changed. It also those in households earning his own produce at the store. favored government regula-
Lyft and delivery giants highlights a wealth divide, less, the survey found. Over- “I did a lot of my appoint- tions to increase wages and
Grubhub and Instacart where Americans with higher all, the percentage of people ments in restaurants, and it benefits for drivers. Support
began making shared rides incomes are able to utilize the using delivery services re- was a treat, to go out and have grew somewhat — to 42%
and meals available with a services to help reduce their mained about the same since somebody bring me coffee — if the cost of services were
few taps on a smartphone, risk of infection. “People are the pandemic began, with and do the dishes,” Hunter to increase 5% to ensure bet-
they transformed the way worried. We know that," said those increasing their use said. “It’s no longer a treat. ter benefits and wages for
people work, travel and Dmitri Koustas, an assistant balanced out by those cutting I’m in the house. It doesn’t gig workers. But support
get food delivered to their professor at the University back, in some cases because make sense to me.” dropped to 22% if it would
homes. of Chicago Harris School. of cost. In Auburn, New A majority — 54% — said lead to a 25% increase in the
"They’re worried about York, few grocery stores offer they feel uncomfortable us- cost of such services.
But the pandemic shuffled themselves and their fami- delivery, and those that do are ing a ride-hailing service dur-
the deck for the so-called lies, and they’re concerned more expensive, said Patricia ing the coronavirus outbreak, Mazur, a stay-at-home mom
gig economy as fear of con- about the virus, and they’re McAvaney, 49, who is dis- preferring their own cars for who says her household in-
tracting the coronavirus led also worried about workers.” abled and living on a fixed in- travel. A similar percentage come is around $150,000,
many who once traveled in Among the people who used come of $920 a month. She's were uncomfortable with said she would be willing to
shared vehicles to stay home, ride-hailing before the cri- not comfortable going to the taxis, public transportation pay a few dollars more. “I
and grocery delivery services sis, 63% said they have not grocery store, but feels she and air travel, suggesting used to waitress and I used
struggled to keep up with de- taken a ride since March. At has no choice. people are shying away from to do these kinds of jobs, so
mand from people who didn't the same time, people with “I'm on a budget, so it's really all forms of transportation I definitely feel for the work-
want to risk stepping into a higher household incomes not feasible to get everything where they share space with ers,” she said.Hunter, the
store. A new survey from the had more groceries delivered delivered from that store,” others. conservative antique dealer
University of Chicago Har- to their homes. McAvaney said. Many Amer- Thomas Sorenson , a who makes about $60,000 to
ris School of Public Policy icans have been uncomfort- 63-year-old handyman, used $70,000 a year, would not.“If
and The Associated Press- Those with household in- able with delivery services ride-hailing when he went the companies don’t pay
NORC Center for Public comes about $100,00 a year during the pandemic. About out with friends before the enough money, people will
Affairs Research shows how were roughly twice as likely 6 in 10 say they are very com- pandemic. But they no lon- leave," Hunter said. "And if
consumer attitudes about us- to have increased their use of fortable picking up food from ger get together, and he takes you keep artificially paying
a restaurant, compared with care of his elderly mother, so people higher wages, it shows
about 3 in 10 using delivery. wouldn't risk infection by us- up in your economics.”
Roughly another 3 in 10 said ing ride-hailing services.
they are uncomfortable get- Karena Mazur Israel, 52, said The AP-NORC poll of 1,002
ting food delivered. she would be more comfort- adults was conducted July 16-
able riding in long vehicles 20 using a sample drawn from
George Hunter, a 60-year- such as buses, station wagons NORC’s probability-based
old antique dealer in Kent, or limousines. “On the bus, AmeriSpeak Panel, which is
Washington, said he went out if you’re feeling like you can’t designed to be representative
to restaurants three or four socially distance, you can get of the U.S. population. The
times per week before the off of the bus and transfer, margin of sampling error for
pandemic. But he’d rather and wait until the next bus all respondents is plus or mi-
cook his own food than or- to come around,” she said. nus 4.3 percentage points.