Austinites getting around on Valentine's Day will have to get a little more intimate with the bus, as Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash drivers are walking out.

Theoretically, the strike should only affect riders coming from the airport. From 11 am to 1 pm on February 14, the strike calls a rally at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, and no rides departing from there. (This isn't the first time Uber has been banned from Austin's airport in some capacity.)

Rides to the airport do not seem to be affected, but participating drivers won't have much incentive to head down that way if their next ride will be from a dead zone. It is also possible that fewer drivers will be on the road in general, in a show of solidarity, but this is not an explicit ask in the call to action — or inaction.

The strike, called by Justice for App Workers, is intended to pressure Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, "and all the app companies profiting off of our hard work" for a fair wage and better driver safety.

"Have you had scary experiences at work, or struggled to make ends meet with the low wages?" asks the February 8 blog post. "Do you want a voice on the job? Are you sick and tired of app companies putting profits ahead of our interests as drivers?"

Austin is one of 10 cities involved, including: Chicago, Hartford, Miami, Newark, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Providence, and Tampa. There will also be rallies at those cities' airports. Although it doesn't call for ride refusals outside of the airport, it does encourage drivers in other cities to participate at home.

Rideshare apps have long been mired in criticism about workers' rights and safety. In November 2023, both Lyft and Uber were ordered by a New York court to pay a combined $328 million in back pay to in-state drivers and deliver other benefits like an earnings minimum, paid sick leave, and working conditions improvements. Uber paid the lion's share of those charges, totaling $290 million.

The Justice for App Workers demands look similar:

• Living wage
• Due process in deactivation cases
• Free and low-cost health and mental health care
• Safe work environment
• Access to bathrooms
• Right to form a union

Austinites and visitors who need rides from the airport during the strike window can consider a taxi service or a bus ride. More information about taking the bus from the airport is available at capmetro.org.