Uber driver gets stuck on staircase, of course blames navigation app

Go ahead, blame the GPS.
 By 
Sasha Lekach
 on 

An Uber driver messed up big time while picking up passengers in San Francisco.

Instead of leaving a grocery store parking lot, you know, through a normal exit, the driver took the stairs.

Stairs are lauded as a healthy alternative to elevators or escalators, but in this case this was the wrong choice. Naturally, after making the supremely embarrassing move, the first thing the Uber driver did was blame Uber's navigation system for leading the car down the pedestrian stairway.

I've driven in this particular Safeway parking lot at the busy intersection of Church and Market streets many times, and it's admittedly unclear how to get out of the lot, but it's not drive-down-a-staircase unclear.

Uber confirmed that the driver was on the ride-hailing app at the time of the "incident" and that two passengers in the car weren't injured. The driver wasn't hurt, either, except for their ego, presumably. The driver was on the way to pick up a third passenger for a shared Pool ride. Considering it was quite the dilemma to get the car off the stairs, I'm guessing that passenger had to get another ride.

Others have had trouble handling discrepancies between what's on a navigation app and what's on the road in front on them. Take this woman who drove into a lake. It's reminiscent of The Office episode where Steve Carell's Michael Scott character has no choice but to obey the GPS and drive into a body of water.

After all, you can always trust apps. Right?

Topics Uber

Mashable Image
Sasha Lekach

Sasha is a news writer at Mashable's San Francisco office. She's an SF native who went to UC Davis and later received her master's from the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. She's been reporting out of her hometown over the years at Bay City News (news wire), SFGate (the San Francisco Chronicle website), and even made it out of California to write for the Chicago Tribune. She's been described as a bookworm and a gym rat.

Mashable Potato

Recommended For You
Uber found liable in precedent-setting sexual assault case
A hand holding a phone in front of a car with an Uber window sticker.



Uber expands options for drivers, riders to opt out of men
The Uber app icon on a green phone background.

Gossip app Tea is back — but not on the App Store
screenshot of tea browser login page, with several women crossing their arms

More in Tech
How to watch Chelsea vs. Port Vale online for free
Alejandro Garnacho of Chelsea reacts

How to watch 'Wuthering Heights' at home: Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi's controversial romance now streaming
Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi embracing in still from "Wuthering Heights"

How to watch New York Islanders vs. Philadelphia Flyers online for free
Matthew Schaefer of the New York Islanders warms up

How to watch Mexico vs. Belgium online for free
Israel Reyes of Mexico reacts

How to watch Brazil vs. Croatia online for free
Vinicius Junior #10 of Brazil leaves

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 3, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 3, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone

Google launches Gemma 4, a new open-source model: How to try it
Google Gemma

NYT Strands hints, answers for April 3, 2026
A game being played on a smartphone.

What's new to streaming this week? (April 3, 2026)
A composite of images from film and TV streaming this week.
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!