Uber shares 5 Canadian cities with best and worst rider ratings

Rating drivers is a central part of the Uber experience. But remember that these ratings go both ways.

While you’re busy giving your driver constructive criticism, you may receive feedback yourself — and don’t assume that the responses will always be positive. This is evident based on Uber’s rankings for rider ratings in Canadian cities, some of which missed the mark.

Rider ratings measure accountability while giving insights into Uber’s broad geographic trends. To that end, Uber makes an annual point of revealing how Canadian cities stack up. Recently, the ridesharing company released its most recent results for cities with the highest and lowest ratings:

Highest ratings

1. Sherbrooke, Que.

2. Trois-Rivières, Que.

3. Red Deer, Alta.

4. Winnipeg, Man.

5. Halifax, N.S.

Lowest ratings

1. Ottawa, Ont.

2. Toronto, Ont.

3. Montreal, Que.

4. Hamilton, Ont.

5. Edmonton, Alta.

This is the second year, Uber has shared city-wide ratings in Canada, but this year’s list displays some changes. For example, Edmonton replaced London on the list of lowest ratings, while Lethbridge and Brantford are no longer in the top five.

Meanwhile, Canadian cities that recently entered the ridesharing world enjoyed a strong showing. Sherbrooke and Trois-Rivières took the top spots but still lived up to last year’s trend of smaller cities achieving higher rankings.

Find your rider rating

Curious as to what drivers think of you as a passenger? Feel free to check your cumulative average score and the total number of one or five-star ratings.

To access these details, head for the Settings page, followed by Privacy, and finally, the Privacy Center. Under “Your data and privacy at Uber,” opt to see a summary of your Uber data.

Scroll down and select “View my ratings.” There, you’ll find a breakdown of your average as a rider. Note that this average won’t be available until you take at least five rated trips.

Improve your rating

A wide range of issues can lead to low rider ratings, but most complaints fall into one of these main categories:

• Messy riders. Drivers are understandably annoyed when riders fail to pick up after themselves. This is most easily avoided by not eating while riding. Be sure to double-check for trash and personal belongings before departing the vehicle.

• Failure to buckle. There’s no excuse for not buckling. This behaviour places both drivers and passengers at risk. The instant you enter an Uber vehicle, buckle up. Avoid unbuckling until you’ve come to a complete stop at your final destination.

• Not being ready. Drivers make every effort to arrive on time and appreciate it when riders are similarly courteous. Streamline the process by arriving at the pickup spot before your Uber driver gets there.

• Lack of respect. Uber provides thorough guidelines that help all drivers and riders feel safe and respected. To abide by these, steer clear of doing or saying anything your driver could perceive as confrontational. Keep conversations friendly, but avoid asking personal questions. All contact between you and the driver should cease as soon as the ride ends.

• Slamming the door. While you may not mean to slam the car door shut, doing so could end an otherwise enjoyable ride on a sour note. Some vehicles make it difficult to properly close doors without slamming, but it’s still important to aim for a soft close when possible.

There’s always time to improve average ratings at personal and city-wide levels. Make an effort to keep rides pleasant for drivers and passengers alike. With a commitment to respectful ridesharing, there’s no telling what next year’s Canadian rankings could reveal.