The Backstory
Empowering Drivers, Maximizing Earnings.
CitySmart Rideshare was founded with one goal:
to help rideshare drivers increase their income and stay safe on the road.
Andre Stone
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Bringing smarter strategies to the streets
The Problem
Rideshare driving shouldn't feel like guesswork. Yet drivers face constant uncertainty about when, where, and how much they'll earn.​ ​Moreover, women drivers often face safety risks and harassment, while ethnic minority drivers frequently deal with discrimination, bias, and unequal treatment from both riders and platforms.
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The Solution
I created the CitySmart Rideshare Driver's Playbooks to provide step-by-step strategies that take the guesswork out of driving, giving drivers the tools they need to maximize their earnings and drive with more confidence. In short, share proven strategies to help drivers overcome challenges and achieve financial independence.
When I first started driving rideshare, I thought it would be simple: pick up riders, drop them off, and earn a steady income. But I quickly discovered what so many other drivers know — it’s not that easy. Between unpredictable earnings, long hours, rising expenses, and constant safety concerns, driving felt more like survival than success.
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That’s when the idea for CitySmart Rideshare Driver's Playbooks came to me. I didn’t just want to figure things out for myself — I wanted to create a guide that laid out the exact steps drivers could use to earn more, stay safe, and feel confident on the road.
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As I started outlining the first Playbook, I realized something: the challenges weren’t the same for every driver. Women faced different risks than men. Immigrant drivers carried unique struggles navigating systems that weren’t designed for them. Parents who drove part-time needed strategies that full-timers didn’t. The problems were bigger and more varied than just my experience.
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That’s when I knew one voice wasn’t enough.
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I decided to expand the vision by bringing in other writers — not just any writers, but voices that could speak directly to the wide range of drivers I wanted to reach. That’s how Aaliyah West, Elijah Ademoye, and Lisandra Castillo came into the picture.
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Aaliyah brings the sharp insight of a student who’s balancing school with gig work, breaking things down so every hustle makes sense.
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Elijah speaks with raw authenticity, sharing real talk from the front seat as someone who’s lived the ups and downs of driving thousands of rides.
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Lisandra connects with parents and hustlers, showing how to turn rideshare into not just income, but balance and freedom.
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Together, we form the voices of CitySmart Rideshare. We don’t claim to have all the answers, but we speak directly to the real struggles drivers face every day. My story might have started with frustration in Houston traffic, but today it’s grown into a mission: giving drivers everywhere the tools, strategies, and confidence to take control of their earning potential.
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This is more than just a driver's guide — it’s a driver’s movement.
Our guides are written through the voices of Andre Stone, Aaliyah West, Elijah Ademoye, and Lisandra Castillo by a dedicated writing team, ensuring each perspective remains authentic and relatable. Just as advice columns like ‘Dear Abby’ built trust through a consistent voice over decades, our personas give readers a reliable way to connect with the stories, insights, and strategies that matter most. Whether you’re hustling full-time, balancing family life, driving part-time, or navigating rideshare in a new country, one of our writers is here to speak to you.