New Dasher: Navigating Reserved Zones
Overview
As a New Dasher, you may be curious about navigating the Heatmap - the map on the home screen of the Dasher app. This article will help you understand how by providing an overview of zones and how they work.
Zones:
Zones are areas on the Heatmap that you can select as your starting point to dash in. However, depending on how many Dashers are in a particular zone at a given time, access to that zone may change. Here is how it works:
Red Color (Dashers needed now) = zone is currently busy, and “Dash Now” button is available to all Dashers to get started dashing immediately.
Grey Color (Dashers not needed now) = Zone is currently not available and “Dash Now” is not available. In order to dash in this zone, you will need to schedule a dash at a later time.
Gold Color (Access Reserved: needs to be unlocked) = Due to too many Dashers on the road, this zone is currently unavailable for Dashers who have completed less than a certain number of deliveries. To access this zone, a Dasher must either wait for it to be unlocked by completing a specified number of deliveries (see more below on how to unlock a reserved zone) or schedule a dash for a later time.
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Unlocking Reserved Zones:
When an area is near capacity for Dashers at a given time, that area is designated as a “reserved zone” and is shown as gold on the Heatmap. In a reserved zone, the ability to “Dash Now” is available for Dashers who have completed more deliveries. However, access to a reserved zone can be unlocked by completing the minimum number of deliveries specified in the app. You can reach the minimum number of deliveries required to unlock a reserved zone by dashing in any nearby zone where “Dash Now” is available (any red zone on the Heatmap) or when the currently reserved zone is not reserved (it might change throughout the day).
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is a “reserved zone”?
A: A “reserved zone” describes an area that is near capacity for Dashers at a given time, and thus the ability to “Dash Now” is only available for Dashers who have completed more deliveries.
Q: Why is the zone only sometimes “reserved”?
A: The Heatmap updates in real time based on the number of Dashers on the road:
Red = zone is busy and “Dash Now” is available to all Dashers
Gold = zone is reserved for Dashers who have completed more deliveries
Grey = Zone is at capacity and “Dash Now” is not available
Q: How can I unlock full access to a “reserved zone”?
A: Completing the minimum number of deliveries specified in the app to fully unlock a “reserved zone”.
Q: Are the number of deliveries to unlock a zone the same across each reserved zone?
A: No. Each Zone will have its own unlocking thresholds for deliveries. To see a specific reserved zone's minimum number of deliveries needed to unlock it, simply tap on it and the app will show you the deliveries needed to be completed for that specific zone.
Q: How can I complete deliveries if I am in a “reserved zone”?
A: Although you may be unable to dash within a reserved zone until you complete the deliveries needed to unlock the area, you can still dash by:
Checking on the heatmap if there are any nearby zones where “Dash Now” is available (any red zone) and navigating there
Scheduling to dash within the reserve zone at a later time
Dashing in the zone when it’s not reserved (it might change throughout the day)
Q: Why am I seeing a navigate button?
A: When you see a navigate button, the app wants to help direct you to the zone you selected so you can begin dashing immediately.
Q: What happens once I hit the minimum threshold for a specific zone?
A: Once you hit the minimum deliveries - the zone will no longer show as a “reserved zone” indicated by gold color, and you can dash immediately within it when “Dash Now” is available.
