City Girl Problems: Why I Spent $200 on Uber This Month (And Still Got Lost)
City Girl Problems: Why I Spent $200 on Uber This Month (And Still Got Lost)
My Uber driver asked ME for directions yesterday. In my own city. After 5 years of living here. If that doesn't sum up my relationship with urban navigation, I don"t know what does. (Spoiler alert: it gets worse.)
Look, I know I'm not alone in my directionally-challenged existence. According to recent research, even digital navigation tools struggle with accuracy in dense urban environments. Though I'm pretty sure the researchers weren't thinking of someone who once ended up in Brooklyn when trying to get to Queens. (In my defense, they both end in '-lyn' and '-ns'... kind of?)
Remember that time I couldn't figure out my washing machine? Well, my navigation skills are somehow worse. Last week, I confidently directed my Uber driver to what I thought was my friend's new apartment. Turns out we were in completely the wrong neighborhood. The driver's face when I said "Oh wait, wrong Sarah!" was priceless. And expensive.
Speaking of expensive, did you know the average American household spends about 17-18% of their budget on transportation? I'm pretty sure I'm single-handedly raising that average. Between my subway card (for when I'm feeling brave) and my Uber addiction (for when I'm not), my bank account is giving me serious side-eye.
Just last month, during a subway breakdown, I decided to walk to work. In heels. Because apparently, like 31% of Americans who are "almost constantly" online, I trust Google Maps more than my own instincts. Three blisters and two wrong turns later, I ended up at my office looking like I'd just completed a marathon. In Louboutins. At least my coworkers were entertained – much like when I bring my sad desk lunches to work.
The real kicker? Late-night surge pricing. There I was, after a night of binge-watching my guilty pleasure shows, facing a $45 Uber ride home. Did you know some cities charge up to $45 just for parking? Suddenly my Uber habit doesn't seem so bad... right? (Don't answer that.)
And yet, here I am, still getting lost at least twice a week. My phone says I check it over 300 times a day – mostly to verify that yes, I am indeed walking in the complete opposite direction of where I need to be.
Fellow city dwellers: How much do you spend on Uber? And do you also pretend you know where you're going? (Please say yes. Please validate my life choices.)
P.S. If you see someone wandering around the city, staring at their phone with a confused expression, wearing impractical shoes... come say hi! It's probably me, trying to figure out which way is north. Again.