In the fast-moving world of city transit, there’s more going on in the backseat than just traffic updates and small talk. Every commuter, driver, and rideshare regular has at least one story—sometimes funny, sometimes unsettling, and sometimes the kind of tale that becomes local legend. Whether passed along between passengers or whispered by drivers who’ve seen it all, these urban myths offer a unique slice of city folklore.
Here’s a look at some of the most curious, creepy, and comical urban legends from the backseat—as told by those who spend their days and nights behind the wheel or in transit.
- The Passenger Who Vanished
One of the oldest rideshare legends is the story of the disappearing passenger. In multiple cities, drivers have reported picking up a rider from an out-of-the-way location—only for the passenger to vanish without a trace mid-ride.
Some versions say the passenger leaves behind a personal item like a scarf or a book. Others claim the address they request turns out to be a long-abandoned building or cemetery. Whether it’s a glitch in the GPS or something more spectral, it’s a story that continues to surface among late-night drivers.
- The Ghost of the Underpass
In cities with older infrastructure, such as Chicago or New York, legends swirl about shadowy figures that appear near tunnels, train underpasses, or long-forgotten overpasses. Drivers have shared stories of spotting lone walkers who vanish upon second glance—or of passengers who refuse to drive through certain underpasses due to “bad energy.”
These tales blend local history with superstition, making every turn under the city a little more mysterious.
- The Laughing Hitchhiker
In more lighthearted folklore, there’s the myth of the laughing hitchhiker—an eccentric character said to pop up on the outskirts of town, always with the same story and a joke that no one can ever quite remember. Riders claim the person gets in, tells a strange tale about an old radio station or forgotten restaurant, laughs loudly, and exits before the end of the ride—leaving the car unusually quiet afterward.
No one’s sure who this rider is—or if they exist at all—but the story keeps resurfacing in places like Portland, Austin, and sections of New Jersey.
- The Ride Request That Repeats
A few drivers have shared stories about receiving the same ride request every night at the exact same time from the same address. When they arrive, no one is there. Eventually, the request stops for weeks—only to return again on the anniversary of a tragic event tied to that location.
While GPS or app glitches might explain this, it’s enough to keep some drivers from taking calls near certain intersections after dark.
- Comedy of Errors: The Two-Twin Mix-Up
On the funnier side of rideshare lore is the “twin pickup” confusion. In a few rare but verified cases, drivers in cities like Boston and Los Angeles have picked up a passenger—only to receive a call minutes later from the same person, claiming they weren’t in the car. It turns out they picked up the rider’s identical twin.
The confusion usually leads to shared laughs and awkward apologies, and the story always ends up retold as the “one-in-a-million” mix-up of the week.
The longer you ride, the weirder it gets. From chilling encounters to head-scratching coincidences, the backseat of a city cab or rideshare is often a front-row seat to urban legend. Whether you ride with ZipCab, Uber, or Lyft, there’s always the chance your next trip could come with a story that’s too strange not to share.
