Uber drivers head into the Coachella Valley for festival weekend
The first weekend of the Coachella Music and Arts Festival is almost here. High traffic is expected throughout the valley, and this year, Uber is calling in drivers from other California cities.
Tim Donovan, Coachella Valley’s first Uber driver, says that given his experience working in the area, he anticipates making somewhere around $2,000 during the weekend.
Donovan expected 700-800 drivers from outside the Coachella Valley, including some from out of state, but Uber official Zara Rahim told us Thursday afternoon that Uber drivers from out of state aren’t allowed to work the event. Rahim said in order to drive with Uber in California, you are required to have a California license plate.
“At night it won’t be any problem at all to get rides it’ll just be a little bit more difficult due to traffic constraints at the end of the evening when you’ve got 40,000 people trying to leave at once,” Donovan shared with News Channel 3.
He said 4 PM is the most challenging time for attendees to find a ride.
We tested to see the price of an Uber from the location of the festival to a nearby hotel, about an 11 mile drive. The price for the most inexpensive vehicle was between $16 to $21, though prices are expected to hike up given the high volume of travelers.
Donovan told us, “the longest ride I heard about [last year] was maybe about $150 for about a 30 mile ride.”
If you’re attending the event and did not get your shuttle pass, both taxis and Uber will be leaving to and from the polo grounds. You can visit Uber’s website for more information on travel during the event.
