This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Daniel Mondragon, a ride-hailing driver who lives in Colorado and drives for The Drivers Cooperative Colorado, a driver-owned ride-hailing service. It has about 1,500 drivers and offers rides in the Denver area, Boulder, Colorado Springs, and Fort Collins. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
The bulk of my career has been in the nonprofit sector, particularly in development and fundraising.
With everything happening in our country, from the murder of George Floyd to attacks against LGBTQ+ people, I thought something needed to be done to promote nonviolence, especially the teachings of Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. So, in 2024, I got some colleagues together and went from a full-time salary to no income to found a new nonprofit devoted to teaching nonviolence.
My wife is employed, and so we are financially OK. Still, I thought that I could use some side income.
I saw a flyer promoting the co-op, and given my history in nonprofits, I loved the concept. It seemed like a good alternative to investor-focused companies.
Unlike Uber or Lyft, drivers own the co-op and pay a fee to join. We have a stake in the organization's well-being and help it grow by offering excellent service to riders. It also offers drivers a better rate of pay than they can get through the other apps. The co-op takes 20% of each trip fare. Other apps take more than half of some fares.
Last year, I made about $5,000 through the co-op. I worked eight to 10 hours a week and fit in work on my new nonprofit in between rides. I knew that the co-op was a new venture — we launched a new app last year — and that I wouldn't make a ton of money, but I was cool with that.
The drivers' co-op is a work in progress
We're still building both the rider and driver bases in some areas. I live on the west side of the Denver Metro area, and rides out here on the app are limited. As a result, I drive a few miles south to a busier area where I can park and serve more people.
On a Friday or Saturday night, I might take a ride from my suburb into Denver. That gives me the opportunity to hang out in the central part of town, pick up rides for a few hours, then call it a day and go home.
It feels like there's also a stronger community through the co-op. I'm getting to meet other drivers from other countries during the co-op meetings. We have gotten to know each other, and we watch out for each other.
I believe the economy is for people, and that people should not be treated as mere cogs for the benefit of company owners. With the co-op, there's dignity in work, and we're honoring each other's work as we build this app together.
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