The invisible hand of the app: The role of platform operational rules in fostering risky rider behaviour in food delivery

Meal delivery riders are frequently involved in crashes, many of which are linked to dangerous riding behaviours such as running red lights, using mobile phones while riding, and riding on footpaths. This paper investigates how the operational design of meal delivery platforms contributes to these hazardous behaviours. The analysis is based on in-depth interviews with 10 UberEATS riders in Sydney, Australia. Six key platform-related factors were identified as fostering risky riding: handling multiple orders simultaneously, prolonged food preparation times, competition among riders for the best orders, the platform’s incentive system, the customer review system, and the existence of pre-orders. These factors were found to reduce the time till the Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA), intensify the pressure to respond immediately, promote a sense of urgency to deliver quickly, and cause riders to receive customer messages while en route. These outcomes, in turn, contribute to the three dangerous behaviours described above. The paper also offers policy recommendations based on these findings. This study provides an in-depth analysis of how platform design affects rider safety, emphasising the need to progress beyond safety instructions to implement structural improvements in platform design. • Meal-delivery platform rules foster risky cycling behaviour among food riders. • Findings from interviews with UberEATS riders in Sydney highlight systemic causes. • Six platform mechanisms identified, fostering running red lights, using phone while biking, and running on footpaths. • Platform-induced time pressure and the constant need for phone use are key drivers of unsafe riding. • Study reframes safety policy from individual training to platform design reform.