New York City tops list of most forgetful Uber riders

In April 2025, Uber published its annual 'Lost & Found Index,' detailing the various items left in their ride-share vehicles by riders over the previous year. The report highlighted significant trends in forgetfulness among passengers, with New York City emerging as the most forgetful city for lost items. This index brought attention to the most commonly forgotten objects, including electronic devices like phones, as well as personal belongings such as wallets and keys. Notably, the report also showcased a range of unusual items left behind, including live animals and bizarre personal items. According to the data released, Uber noted that around 1.7 million smartphones were forgotten by riders in the past year, with the figures reflecting a significant issue of misplaced items within the ride-share community. Other frequently lost items comprised wallets, keys, and various types of food, which included more than 175 hamburger sliders and even unique items like a Viking drinking horn and a mannequin head. The trends identified by Uber suggest that certain demographics, including Philadelphia Eagles fans, had a propensity to leave behind their merchandise. The report indicated that specific times and dates had higher incidents of lost items, with Saturday evenings around Halloween seeing the highest emergence of forgetfulness, suggesting a correlation with social events and the consumption of alcohol. In addition to the items typically left, the list also featured a variety of unusual personal belongings, showcasing just how forgetful riders can be when engaging in social activities, thereby sparking questions about attention to personal possessions. Uber's initiative to release the Lost & Found Index also served as a reminder for riders to check their belongings before exiting the vehicle, emphasizing their commitment to customer support and encouraging people to utilize their app for retrieving lost items easily. Overall, the Uber Lost & Found Index not only cataloged lost items but also provided insights into human behavior in relation to forgetfulness during travels via ride-share services. With a growing trend of bizarre items being reported each year, this has become a peculiar aspect of the Uber experience, reflecting diverse city life and unique passenger habits in urban environments.