Rideshare apps have changed how we approach going out for the better. That said, issues can always arise.
For example, users are reporting a recent scam in which an Uber driver will accept a ride, then make no effort to actually pick up the passenger. The hope, it seems, is that the passenger will cancel the ride out of frustration — earning the driver a cancellation fee.
Now, a user on TikTok has the internet grossed out after discovering another issue that can come with rideshare apps. If she’s correct about what she experienced, it’s a problem she’s going to be dealing with for some time.
What Went Wrong With This Uber Ride?
In a video with over 1.1 million views, TikTok user Liz (@_liz555) advises riders to “please be careful when getting into an UBER.”
The reason? As shown in the video, Liz’s recent Uber ride was covered head to toe in bugs.
“This is literally so disgusting,” she writes in the caption. “The driver knew about the bugs and didn’t care, we didn’t notice until I kept getting bite marks. These bugs could of harmed my baby and gave me Lyme disease and harm my cats at home. I have the drivers license plate, name info and model of the car. I will post that if I need to, for some reason I can’t get in contact with an agent to report this.”
“UBER DO BETTER,” she concluded.
What Are These Bugs?
As many commenters noted, these are not spiders or ticks, as she appears to believe. The bugs in the car appear to be bedbugs.
“The good news is that they can’t give you lyme disease,” wrote a commenter. “The bad news is they are extremely invasive so i hope you took off your clothes and washed them as soon as you got home lol.”
Liz responded to this comment, explaining how she and her boyfriend reacted.
“As soon as we got off the freeway my boyfriend had the driver pull over and drop us off we ran out of the car and started taking off our shoes and looking through our stuff,” she wrote. “We honestly looked crazy but didn’t care.”
She notes that they changed clothes as soon as possible, got rid of their old clothes, and made sure to take hot showers.
What Should You Do If Your Uber Has Bedbugs?
Getting bedbugs from an Uber or other rideshare is not common, but it is also not unheard of. One pest control worker interviewed in 2020 said they worked on “five to ten rideshare cars per week,” though they noted that not every car had a confirmed bedbug infestation.
On Reddit, Uber drivers agreed that getting bedbugs, though rare, does occasionally happen.
If one is exposed to bedbugs during their Uber ride, they should document the evidence. Then, they should report the issue to Uber. After they exit the car, they should put all of their belongings and clothing into a sealed plastic bag until they can launder them. When they do, they should wash and dry at medium or high heat for at least 30 minutes. In the meantime, they should take a hot shower to get rid of any potential remaining bugs.
@_liz555 This is literally so disgusting, my boyfriend and I got into this uber to go home from Torrence. The driver knew about the bugs and didn’t care, we didn’t notice until I kept getting bite marks. These bugs could of harmed my baby and gave me Lyme disease and harm my cats at home. I have the drivers license plate, name info and model of the car. I will post that if I need to, for some reason I can’t get in contact with an agent to report this UBER DO BETTER. @Uber #disgusting #nastybugs #fyp #uber ♬ Very scary chase theme – Robux
Commenters Are Disgusted
In the comments section, users shared just how grossed out they were by Liz’s experience.
“I hope you reported the uber,” wrote a commenter. “No one should have to deal with bed bugs in a Uber.”
“THESE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE DELIVERING YOUR FOOD WHEN YOU USE THOSE APPS,” observed another.
“Uber needs to start doing vehicle inspections, and food handling certification now,” declared a third. “Because NO!!!!”
The Mary Sue reached out to Uber via email and Liz via TikTok direct message and comment.
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