Using Uber from Airport

You'd have to be crazy to ride the city bus, with all those other people. Theoretically, they've been reducing the capacity of buses, but I doubt it can be effective. That said, if you want to risk it...

Hitchhiking is illegal in Nevada---you may not "solicit a ride" from the driver of a vehicle. Furthermore, it's technically illegal to simply walk along the shoulder of a state or interstate highway--and the Strip (LV Blvd) is a Nevada state highway. How thoroughly this is enforced is open to debate, but in general, you don't want to break any law in Nevada.

You probably already know about the infamous Lyft and Uber "surge" pricing, which can result in you having to pay three times as much today for the same ride you took yesterday. Or an hour ago, for that matter.

So why visit Vegas at all? The place is a giant ripoff, now more than ever.

Now, this breaking news:

• April 12, 2021 10:17 Careful of Wildcat Ride-Share Drivers: 

Today's Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that with the continuing shortage of Lyft and Uber drivers in Las Vegas (down 66% from pre-shutdown), there's been an increase in local drivers with no affiliation to the ride-share companies cruising the airport and offering unauthorized rides to incoming passengers. The police and Airport Authority are cautioning passengers from accepting those rides (cash only and not arranged via the apps). Such riders are "setting aside all the measures that have been taken to make sure [official ride-sharing] is a safe transportation option.” Of course, it's tempting, since wait times for Lyft and Uber are inordinately long and rental-car costs are through the roof. But you do take a chance.

  BAD IDEA!!!!!

Why is it a "bad idea" to enter into a simple contract with a private driver? I mean, yeah, he could be a homicidal crazy person or a recently arrived murderous space alien, but the risk is minimal---and it's not as if taking a cab or an Uber/Lyft is 100% safe anyway.

That LVRJ article looks like a typical propaganda piece intended to preserve Vegas's profit-making machine. (For those of you who are unaware, the LVRJ is not so much a newspaper as a casino company-town propaganda rag.) This reminds me of an article I read somewhere about why I should always buy my used car from a "reputable dealer," because unlike private sellers, they never lie about the vehicles they sell or ask for too much money.

Of course, what enrages the powers that be about private ride transactions is that the various entities don't get those yummy taxes. (Have you ever looked at your rental car contract and seen how many different taxes are slathered onto your bill?) IMHO, I should be able to pull up, ask if you need a ride, and negotiate a price, or vice versa. A simple contract between two private citizens. What the %^#*& is wrong with that??