Uber Price Surges In Sunset Park Following The Brooklyn Subway Shooting Outrage Users On Twitter

Uber surges in Brooklyn's Sunset Park are being widely discussed on Twitter following the N train subway shooting that left 16 New Yorkers injured today. With the app designed to raise prices amid high demand, many frightened Brooklynites are angered by the company and are accusing it of trying to exploit their need to commute safely.

⁦@Uber⁩ turn off surges in sunset park. People are scared, let them get out safely pic.twitter.com/e31KIPE3ND

— Shannon McDonagh (@shananigans022) April 12, 2022

Twitter user Shannon McDonagh highlighted the issue earlier today, sharing a screenshot from her smartphone of how much it'd cost to go from Sunset Park to Long Island City — a whopping $68.49. The increased pricing was a direct result of the shooting that took place underground this morning, leading to a surge in people trying to get to work or elsewhere without the subway after it was shut down temporarily.

With less than 250 followers, McDonagh's tweet went exceptionally viral, gaining over 14,000 likes in three hours. Users exposed to her tweet reacted, calling for Uber to make an exception for the area based on the dangerous circumstances.

Surge pricing is the worst of capitalism incarnate. Doesn’t matter if your life is at risk, better be ready to pay more.

Ban surge pricing. https://t.co/wh49hpXJqF

— UGene🐝 (@EugeneGlukh) April 12, 2022

turn off surges forever and bring back ride sharing https://t.co/ddmHirFmWl

— mattfred (@itsmattfred) April 12, 2022

It is unconscionable that @Uber would leverage surge prices after a mass shooting. Big tech is never going to protect us from anything https://t.co/OBFcMh0LzO

— Gina Christo (@ginachristo) April 12, 2022

Other users took a more humorous approach to their reactions, trying to make the situation and disaster more light-hearted. Many of the jokes levied around McDonagh's tweet chose not to sympathize with her, telling her to walk or stop bringing "car slaves" into the area for her own benefit.

im ubering away from the shooting pic.twitter.com/VTLv7OGEOU

— rob (@OkButStill) April 12, 2022

Walk https://t.co/vUwv7CByB7

— primaIignity (@primaIignity) April 12, 2022

Uber makes the app slaves drive me out of an active shooter situation at a reduced rate https://t.co/IxRVTSpx1f

— Lifelong Kraken Fan (@CokeEnjoyer) April 12, 2022

Smells like broke in here 😂🤣💯 https://t.co/yO5v5dVijC

— unoffical cia operator (@DylanTop5) April 12, 2022

Despite both reactions to the development, this isn't the first time Uber price surges have been contentious. In 2017, following the Las Vegas Strip Shooting, Uber's competitor Lyft was the subject of public scrutiny following their own price surges amid the event. Uber, on the other hand, offered free rides to people that evening.

The call for price surges to be abolished from ride-sharing platforms has been highlighted once more during this debacle. This time around, many are hoping the public backlash will be loud enough to end them once and for all.