When Uber was $1.50 per mile (national average) tipping was not as important - it has fallen to $1.00 a mile now.

I only drive a couple of nights a week, so it is truly extra cash with a flexible schedule. But, for many Uber drivers they quit jobs and/or purchased cars to drive for Uber when it was $1.50 a mile.

I live in Los Angeles, possibly one of the most difficult cities to navigate without a car, and maybe one of the worst for Taxi costs/service. I love what Rideshare is doing for my city. I truly hope Uber & Lyft will flourish and passengers will have great experiences here and around the globe with Uber/Lyft.

That said, something has to give, driving for minimum wage will, over time, diminish the workforce and types of cars that passengers are picked up by.

I hate carrying cash and completely get that is one of the major conveniences of taking Uber/Lyft because it is cashless. And, I do not think drivers and passengers having to do the Square thing is any better. And I abhor the idea of Tip Signs in Ubers.

In short, I believe that Lyft having a Tip Function in their App will increasingly pull the better drivers to them. And, unless Uber raises their prices back to a profitable point, or puts a Tip Function in their App, their service will continue to diminish in quality.