Uber to ban passengers with low ratings from using app

Ride-hailing company Uber announced Wednesday that it will ban passengers with “significantly below average ratings” from using the popular app.

In a blog post, the company said the move is part of a new “education campaign” designed to push for more customer awareness of community standards.

“Respect is a two-way street, and so is accountability,” the post reads. “Drivers have long been expected to meet a minimum rating threshold which can vary city to city. While we expect only a small number of riders to ultimately be impacted by ratings-based deactivations, it’s the right thing to do.”

{mosads}Uber said that customers at risk of being removed from the app will receive warnings, and will have “several opportunities” to improve their behavior while using Uber.

“Riders will receive tips on how to improve their ratings, such as encouraging polite behavior, avoiding leaving trash in the vehicle and avoiding requests for drivers to exceed the speed limit,” according to the post.

The new initiative is part of a campaign to promote Uber’s newly revamped community guidelines, which center on three principles: treating everyone with respect, helping keep one another safe and following the law. 

Uber’s decision to update its community guidelines comes amid safety concerns about the app and other similar ride-hailing services, such as Lyft. Earlier this year, the company launched a new set of campus safety measures following the murder of a University of South Carolina student who was killed after getting into a car she thought was her Uber ride.

The app has publicized several efforts to make the experience of using Uber safer for both customers and drivers, including updating sexual assault policies, safety features and committing to publish a “safety transparency report.”

“We want every Uber experience to be a great one,” Uber wrote.