Ride-sharing services have revolutionized urban transportation, but they've also created a new phenomenon: the unique anxiety of realizing you've left something important in a stranger's car. Uber's latest Lost & Found Index offers a fascinating glimpse into just how strange and varied these forgotten items can be.
The Forgetful Rider Phenomenon
Uber has released its annual Lost & Found Index, revealing that forgetfulness reached new heights in the past year. An astonishing 1.7 million phones were left behind in Uber vehicles in 2024 alone, highlighting how common it is for riders to exit vehicles without their most essential possessions. New York City earned the dubious honor of being the most forgetful city, while October 26 emerged as the peak day for forgotten items, possibly due to pre-Halloween distractions.
Key Statistics:
- 1.7 million phones left in Uber vehicles in 2024
- Most forgetful city: New York City
- Peak day for forgotten items: October 26
Beyond the Ordinary
While phones, keys, and wallets predictably top the list of commonly forgotten items, it's the unusual objects that capture our imagination. Camiel Irving, Uber's vice president of operations and general manager of mobility for the U.S. and Canada, noted that from wayward mannequin heads to live lobsters, Uber riders have left behind some truly unforgettable items this year. The contrast between the mundane and the bizarre paints a colorful picture of modern urban life.
The Top 10 Strangest Items
The list of most unusual forgotten items reads like a surrealist's shopping list. A mannequin head with human hair tops the collection, followed closely by a Viking drinking horn and a Ghostbusters ghost trap. Practical but puzzling items like a chainsaw and breast milk made the list, alongside more perplexing discoveries including a urinal, a live turtle, and fine china. Rounding out the collection were a club promoter's sign reading Annie's married and a sticky bra—items that surely have interesting stories behind them.
Top 10 Most Unusual Items Left in Uber Rides:
- Mannequin head with human hair
- Viking drinking horn
- Ghostbusters ghost trap
- Chainsaw
- Breast milk
- Fine china
- A live turtle
- A urinal
- Club promoter's sign reading "Annie's married"
- A sticky bra
Trends in Forgetfulness
Beyond individual oddities, Uber identified several patterns in what passengers leave behind. Legal documents were frequently discovered in car seats, sometimes accompanied by bottles of high-end liquor (though not necessarily from the same passengers). Gaming enthusiasts misplaced over 70 Nintendo Switch consoles, and drivers reported finding more teeth than the Tooth Fairy could handle—a particularly unsettling trend.
The Recovery Process
Despite the occasional absurdity of forgotten items, Uber emphasizes that being reunited with lost possessions is straightforward. The company has implemented a user-friendly process through its app that connects forgetful riders with drivers who have found their belongings. This system has likely been responsible for reuniting many owners with their treasured Viking drinking horns and mannequin heads—not to mention the live turtle that someone presumably missed quite urgently.
The Human Element
The annual index serves as a reminder of the human element in ride-sharing services. Behind each forgotten item is a moment of distraction, a hurried exit, or perhaps a night of celebration that ended with slightly less personal property than it began with. From the bride who left her bouquet to the person who misplaced a five-gallon bucket of beans, these moments of forgetfulness connect us in their universality while amusing us with their specificity.