Basic hygiene is something most people are taught early in life. Beyond the obvious health benefits, being clean is also a matter of courtesy. Poor hygiene can quickly become a problem for others, especially in enclosed spaces, where unpleasant odors are hard to escape. One woman in Denver, Colorado, recently found herself in exactly that situation during what should have been a routine Uber ride.
According to the video she recorded, the Denver woman entered an Uber vehicle and immediately noticed that the air inside the car felt stale, musky, and unpleasant. Finding the smell overwhelming, she decided to roll down the window to let in some fresh air. What seemed like a reasonable reaction quickly escalated when the Uber driver objected to her opening the window.
As the situation grew tense, the woman began recording and confronted the Uber driver, asking why the car smelled so bad. She questioned whether the odor was coming from him or from a previous passenger, but said that regardless of the cause, she should be allowed to roll the window down. The Denver woman appeared frustrated that such a basic request was being denied in an Uber she was paying for.
The argument intensified when it became clear that the Uber driver had canceled her ride. This only made the woman angrier, as she accused the driver of being unable to handle criticism. She exited the vehicle, telling him bluntly that he needed to learn how to use deodorant. Before leaving, she demanded the driver’s name, which he refused to give.
Still upset, the Denver woman continued her rant at the Uber driver, saying that the man should not be driving for Uber until he cleaned both himself and his car. She warned that future passengers should not have their sense of smell “attacked” during what is supposed to be a normal ride across Denver.
Online reactions were mixed, but many users sided with the woman. While some acknowledged that her delivery was aggressive, they argued that no one should have to sit through an Uber ride that smells unpleasant. Several commenters pointed out that because Uber drivers work directly with the public, maintaining a clean car should be a basic expectation.
“Cleanliness is next to godliness,” one user wrote. Another added, “Anyone who has ever been in an Uber more than twice knows that the passenger is 100% right here.”
Others used the incident to explain why they avoid Uber altogether. “One of the reasons I like that I have Waymo as an option where I live. More and more Ubers and Lyfts smell like sweat or cigarettes,” one user said.
Still, not everyone was on the woman’s side. A smaller number of commenters defended the Uber driver, criticizing the Denver woman’s tone and behavior. “Drivers can already tell by her attitude that she would have pulled something to get his account deactivated and score a free ride,” one commenter argued.
