'Sitting here since morning and haven't got a single trip': Rising fuel costs hit Dhaka's ride-sharing drivers

Hours of waiting for passengers have become part of the workday for ride-sharing drivers, who say they are earning less as fuel and maintenance costs rise while app-based fares remain unchanged.

Mohammad Asif, who earns his living through motorcycle ride-sharing, left home at 10am today (23 September) hoping to make enough trips to cover his daily expenses. But by 3pm, he was still sitting at Narayanganj's Signboard Bus Stand with his motorcycle, without getting a single trip.

"The time was 10am when I left home. It's almost 3pm now. I haven't been able to make even a single trip. There are so few passengers, and the fares don't add up," Asif said.

Asif said he often spends much of the day waiting for passengers. The rise in fuel prices has made things harder, while asking for a slightly higher fare can also mean losing passengers.

"If we ask for a little more, many passengers do not agree. Some leave after hearing the fare," he said.

Speaking to ride-sharing drivers at different stops across the capital today, this reporter found many waiting for passengers for hours.

Beside Asif, Touhidul Islam was also waiting for passengers. As the sole earning member of his family, he depends on his motorcycle to support his children and meet the household expenses.

"Earlier, after all expenses, I used to have around Tk1,500-2,000 left at the end of the day. Now the whole day goes just to earn Tk1,000," he said.

App fares no longer add up for drivers

Despite the rise in fuel prices, ride-sharing apps have not increased fares accordingly, drivers said.

Touhidul said passengers often consider the fare shown on the app to be fixed.

"If the app shows Tk170-180, we ask for Tk200. But if a student says Tk120 is the fare, another driver takes the passenger for Tk120. I can't later ask that passenger for Tk150 because Tk120 is already fixed in their mind," he said.

Another ride-sharing driver, Mahmudur Rahman Shahin, lives in Sonargaon's Kanchpur and travels to different parts of the capital every day for work. He was at the Janapath intersection in Sayedabad.

Shahin said the government adjusts bus fares when fuel prices rise and suggested that a similar structure could be introduced for ride-sharing drivers.

"The government could designate a specific place for us at each stop. It could also set fares for travelling within the city. If there were a fixed fare list, it would be easier for both drivers and passengers. We would not have arguments with passengers over fares either," he said.

Engine oil, servicing costs also rise

Touhidul said the price of the engine oil he used to buy for Tk650 has risen to Tk800-850. The price of another type that cost Tk850 has now risen to Tk1,150, he said.

Servicing a motorcycle at a garage can now cost Tk8,000-10,000, according to the drivers.

Ride-sharing driver Sagar Mia said his experience was similar. He previously worked as a manager at a company but left the job after his salary remained unpaid for two to three months as the company's sales declined. He then took up ride-sharing as a profession.

"Earlier, I could have Tk1,500-2,000 left every day. Now it's very difficult to make Tk1,000. It's not just fuel prices that have gone up; the costs of engine oil, paperwork, and other motorcycle expenses have also increased. But our income has not increased accordingly," he said.

Fewer passengers, lower income

Asif said he needs an average of Tk1,000 a day to run his family. To have Tk1,000 left in hand, however, he needs to make at least Tk1,500 in fares, after which Tk500 goes towards fuel and other expenses.

"To earn Tk1,000, I have to make Tk1,500 in fares. If I make Tk1,500, Tk500 will be gone, and I'll have Tk1,000 left. But it's not possible to make that Tk1,500 in fares during the rest of the day," he said.

He also said the number of passengers has fallen since fuel prices increased, while passengers are also reluctant to pay higher fares.

"We leave home at the beginning of the day hoping to earn a certain amount, but by the end of the day, it becomes difficult to meet that target," he said.

'We're not poor enough to beg, nor can we ask anyone for help'

Many ride-sharing drivers consider themselves part of the middle class. Although their incomes have fallen, they say their social and family expenses have not.

"We're not poor enough to beg or ask for money, but because we're middle class, we can't ask anyone for help either. If someone suddenly falls ill or there's a major expense, our only option is often taking out a loan in instalments. Then we have to repay it, sometimes by cutting back on food," Touhidul said.

"I have my own needs and complaints. But at the end of the day, I have to put them aside because I have to run my family," he added.

No room to stop working

Many drivers also cannot afford to leave ride-sharing for another profession.

Touhidul said getting a job requires money or connections, while starting a business requires capital. But he is already struggling to support his family with his ride-sharing income.

For Sagar, ride-sharing was an alternative after he lost his job. Now that his income from the profession is also falling, he is uncertain about the future.

For these drivers, their motorcycles are not simply a means of transport but their families' main source of income. So even as their costs rise, they have little choice but to get on the road.

Recently, the government raised the prices of all types of fuel by Tk20 per litre in line with global market prices. At the same time, motorcycle engine oil prices also increased by Tk150-200.

For ride-sharing drivers, the impact of higher fuel prices therefore goes beyond paying more at the pump. They are also dealing with fewer trips, passengers' reluctance to pay higher fares, rising motorcycle maintenance costs, and the need to meet household expenses at the end of the month.