Message from Uber:
Johnny Garcia knows La Quinta better than most. Over the course of 35 years, he has grown up in the city, worked in the city and driven through its familiar streets countless times. Even his simple description of the community — “my stomping ground” — displays his local pride.
What keeps Garcia around is likely the fact that familiarity does not hinder his discovery of new ways to experience Coachella Valley. For nearly two months and counting, Uber has been his huckleberry for adventures. Driving for Uber brings new experiences directly to him.
Garcia has already met countless people from all around, each with a unique purpose that Uber can fulfill. His frequent riders include tourists in Palm Springs, residents headed to work and other locals trying to beat the heat.
“It’s obviously a great idea to bring Uber out here,” Garcia said. “There’s people that can’t get around and they’re using the service.”
For Garcia, driving is something he naturally loves, largely due to his favorite part of driving for Uber: the human interaction. Garcia said he is amazed by the ability to connect with complete strangers within two or three minutes, all within the comfort of his vehicle.
One of these strangers was Miss Betty. After one Uber ride, she and Garcia connected so fully that Garcia offered to be her personal driver. Now, she calls him directly for rides so they can chat on her way to run errands, or even bring her dog to the salon.
“I asked her, ‘How do you feel about me being your personal driver?’” Garcia said of a recent phone conversation. “She said, ‘I’m starting to feel better about surrendering my license. I’m not so angry about it.’”
Garcia is one of many hardworking driver-partners who use Uber to make a living out of their passions. The flexibility of driving enables him to continue his primary role as a custom audio video home theater installer, while earning enough to make a sustainable living.
“I love what I do,” Garcia said. “I just don’t get to do it enough.”
It’s clear that outside work feeds into his success at Uber, as well. With 25 years of customer service under his belt, Garcia does all he can to make his riders happy.
It’s no wonder why riders love taking an Uber with Johnny Garcia behind the wheel, always shooting to exceed his impressive rating of over 4.9 stars.
Get the Uber app by simply heading to your App Store or Google Play Store, searching for Uber, and selecting Get or Install. Once you open the app, you’ll be able to sign in or register, and your Uber will be just a tap away. Get tips for riding with Uber at uber.com/ride/how-uber-works/ and enjoy up to $15 off your first ride with code UBERGEM1