I cannot tell you the last time I took a cab.
Ever since I’ve been introduced to ride-sharing apps that allow you to summon a car at a click of a button, along with minimized wait times and seamless payment and tipping, I can’t go back to the old school ways of hanging off of a curb, waving my finger while trying to hail a cab.
I recently had the pleasure of visiting San Francisco for a few days and upon my arrival, I decided to call an uberPOOL, which allows you to split a ride with people. (I’m gonna be honest, ever since this woman wrote into xoNecole and revealed she met her very handsome fiancee by accidentally taking uberPOOL, I’ve been on it. It’s my jam okay!)
Since I ordered POOL, and there was already a couple in the back, I had no choice but to hop in the front seat with the Uber driver. It’s probably the best decision I could have made, as Danny (who we now affectionately refer to as Uncle Uber) spent the next 15-20 minutes of the drive telling me all about San Francisco and what I needed to see.
During the ride, I found out that “Uncle Uber” was from Sacramento and he drove 80 miles each day to drive Uber in San Fran since it’s much bigger and busier than where he is from. During our ride, he told me about all the amazing sights the city had to offer, the cost of living, and the growing homeless population. I also found out that he was a serious foodie and that he currently runs an organization where he mentors and serves as a father figure to young women.
After about 10 -15 minutes of hearing Uncle Uber talk, I didn’t want to get out. So, when we arrived at the hotel, my friend Lauren hopped in and Uncle Uber took us to explore the city. We stopped by Filbert Street, Lombard, and Fisherman’s Wharf before Lauren had to run off to work. He dropped her off at the hotel, and our tour continued with The Palace Of Fine Arts, the Golden Gate Bridge, Ocean Beach, Dolores Park, and The Mission District before I hopped out in the Mission district to have dinner. I had to darn near force Uncle Uber to take our cash tip because he genuinely does these things for riders out of the kindness of his heart.
During our ride, we also stopped numerous times to talk to homeless people that Uncle Uber knew by name and he gave them money. It was very heartwarming to see that he knew a lot about their lives and that he genuinely cared.
He also made sure we were entertained by the street performers.
Without a doubt, I would not have had the chance to cover so much ground in San Francisco and take so many photos in one day had I not met Uncle Uber.
It’s moments like these (plus impeccable service from the drivers) that make ride-sharing apps a preferred choice over traditional cab services.
I made this video out of a few clips I captured occasionally throughout our trip. Plus, I dropped an interesting tidbit on how me and my friend Lauren met.
Hope you enjoy!
If you are from The Bay and there are other major places I missed during my trip, be sure to let me know in the comments. I have more than a few reasons to return again. If you ever visit San Fran, I hope you are lucky enough to run into Danny for a ride during your stay.
P.S I think I’m going to write UBER a nice little email tomorrow telling them how amazing Danny was.
Glad you had a good time out here!
I want to go back! The weather threw me through a loop the second day but the first day was incredible. I have to post photos from when I went to Oakland — the museum has a 50th Anniversary black panther exhibit going on right now.
Yeah the weather is a bit all over the place lol I’m glad you got to experience a taste of SF/Oakland. With gentrification,a lot of the culture has changed. Next time you come,I’ll be glad to show you the real oak/SF. You’ll have tons more fun
So jealous I missed you in the bay but the exhibit at the museum was so awesome. I got to go during the 50th anniversary.
Bay Area!!!!!
One of the many reasons why I love Uber and Lyft!
Love the revamp!! #BlackGirlMagic
Whatever you’re doing, keep doing it. It looks good on you!
My best experience was when the Uber driver picked us up after a night of drinking and took us to the taco shop for late night grub before dropping us at home. Such a nice fella
Necole you meet the best people lol
The first time I took Uber was in San Francisco a couple of months ago. The cab ride was going to be like $85 from SFO to the hotel in Emeryville…..Uber was like $28. All I had to do was chat with the chatty driver and the chatty lady I pooled with, which was cool because they gave me the inside on some great sushi!
I love Bay Area uber some even give you snacks ☺️ Lol
My fiance and I took uber many times in SF and we had a similar experience. Really nice driver and she gave us a ton of restaurants to check out!
On the otherside one of my trips to Redmond my uber kept asking inappropriate info and made me very uncomfortable.
Awesome! I miss living in the Bay! Next time take the ferry from SF to Sausalito. Cool views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz. Oakland is cool too. I lived asking around and checking out the large murals outside on the various buildings.
Amazing first experiences with uber and Lyft. I actuly became a driver soon after because of the positive experiences and helpful drivers.
When I went to NH the airport lost my luggage. I had a big exam the next day so my driver took me to Walmart, waited while I went inside and shopped for basic necessities and snacks (the test the next day was 9 hours long), took me to get food from five guys and then took me to my hotel. He was a firefighter too and this was his day off. He even got up early the next morning to make sure I had a guaranteed ride to my exam. (Uber was sporadic in this town because it wasn’t very big)
Uncle Uber that is too cute. You meet some really good people Ubering.
Glad you loved it! I live in Oakland ..15 min from SF and sometimes I forget how beautiful the Bay is until someone I know visits and I show them the area.
Gotta love uncle uber
I wish I would’ve been out and about during the time you were here, I would have loved to say Heyyyyy girl!!!!!!! Loved your celebrity blog and definitely loving your new journey and wish you nothing but success!
Oh and The Bay has the nicest Uber and Lyft drivers i think its just a natural vibe from the city, you should’ve taken a tour of the Castro District which is where the movie ‘Milk’ with Sean Penn was based in the city has so much history and has a certain charm that I have fallen in love with since I moved here
Thank you for sharing your dope video!
I recently was in NYC for the first time this fall and had an amazing Lyft driver that drove us around Brooklyn and gave us a history lesson.
Had the coolest Uber driving while in Orlando. Instantly felt a good vibe with him when I got in…turns out he was frm the Midwest as well. ..Ohio, my friends & I frm Michigan. We laughed and talked our entire ride. I love Uber. Never had a bad experience.
The painted ladies aka the full house, house was recently purchased by the show creator and he’s pained the door red like in the show. . Must see!
Did you walk the golden gate bridge? So much sight seeing around there
The Madame Tuscan museum is also my favorite and it’s near pier 39 which is also an attraction to visit
Food places .. 1300 filmore is bomb. Tonys pizza is great. There’s a soul food restaurant in Bayview Hunters Point that is also really good and has a great story to write about; Old Skool Cafe
Ohhhh the cigar bar is one of my favorites! They do salsa on the weekends and the food is great. I don’t spend much time in the city but there are definitely some gems. . I did zip lining, walking logs and jumping from the top of tree logs out in SF. My most memorable experience by far
Necole, so glad to see this post. I have known Danny since childhood…and he has always been everything you say. I’m so glad you crossed paths with him..you are forever blessed for it. And he is too..
Next time try to visit Sausalito (across the Golden Gate Bridge) and Alcatraz..
I am a friend of Danny’s too! He is awesome, glad you two met.
I was the one who was blessed by meeting Necole and her friends. She was really genuine, which I always appreciate in a person…. and it was my pleasure to have added a positive experience to her trip. Uncle Uber, a.k.a. #UberDan
Danny, there’s few people in the world like you. Thanks so much for the amazing ride on Filbert street on Sunday. That Uber pool ride was the highlight of my trip to SF. Stay blessed.
I had the pleasure of a ride with Danny on Sunday. What an amazing person. Nellie, please tell him Zen said hi and the ride in Danny’s car on Filbert street was the highlight of my week in SF.