Originally Posted by
Analise
Do drivers in either Uber or Lyft have incentive to take longer routes? Is the fare also based on transportation time?
The fare is both distance + time, but drivers get paid more for distance than they do for time, so in general it is in their interest to drive you a longer route that is quicker, e.g. going on the highway or taking a toll road. Although they rarely deviate from what GPS "tells them" to do, as the passenger it is in your best interest to know the most efficient route and communicate it ahead of time, especially if it goes against GPS guidance.