New rideshare company ready to serve Lubbock, national community; now hiring drivers
A new rideshare app has hit the national market, and the creator from Clovis, New Mexico hopes to change the game in numerous cities, including Lubbock.
Initially from Clovis, New Mexico, the creator of Wridz, Steve Wright, wanted to improve the rideshare industry. He designed Wridz with the question, "would I put my wife or kids in that car with that driver?"
From that question, he started a years-long journey to make a better rideshare, which launched in Austin in early 2022. The rideshare has local owners in cities across the U.S., including Lubbock, Houston, Chicago and Cincinnati.
"It's very exciting to go from being raised in Clovis and working in Lubbock, and all of a sudden, we're getting on this national stage," Wright said. "We've been listening to the drivers and passengers to make it a better platform. We just try to implement that into our program... it's been developed out of the need for a better rideshare."
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Wridz drivers receive the full fare and tips. Drivers also go through an in-person interview, background checks and must pass a drug test.
"The first, most obvious difference (between Wridz and other rideshares) is the safety level for passengers that we offer," Wright said. "Another is that our drivers are seeing anywhere from a 60-90% increase in what they are getting, depending on the length of the trip."
The rideshare does their program as a subscription service for drivers and riders. Drivers can pause their subscription, and won't be charged if they pause.
In Lubbock, Wridz officially began around July. One of the Lubbock owners, Cindy Petty, mentioned the business is going well and has regular customers.
"We have one customer that uses us three times every day," Petty said. "We do see a lot of the same people using this over and over, and the regular drivers are loving it, because they're making so much more money."
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In the upcoming weeks, Wridz will allow passengers to request a driver. Wright and Petty hope this will help drivers be able to plan out their day, allowing them better pay security and time off.
The program is still fairly new, so Wridz would like to ask future riders for patience.
"We're finding that balance of drivers and passengers," Wright said. "If a passenger tries to get a trip and didn't have any luck, the next time they try, there should be a driver available."
People can download the app on Apple and Google Play stores. For those interested in becoming a driver, visit wridz.com/driver.
Alana Edgin is a journalist covering Business News in Lubbock and the surrounding area. Send her a news tip at aedgin@lubbockonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Clovis man creates Wridz, a rideshare company, available in Lubbock
