A bad Uber rating could get you banned from the service

Riders with low ratings could soon be banned from using the ride-hailing service, Uber announced in a blog post Tuesday, which outlines refreshed guidelines.

"Riders may lose access to Uber if they develop a significantly below average rating," said Kate Parker, Uber's head of safety brand and initiatives, in the post. "Riders will receive tips on how to improve their ratings, such as encouraging polite behavior, avoiding leaving trash in the vehicle and avoiding requests for drivers to exceed the speed limit."

Parker said riders will have several opportunities to improve their rating before losing access.

Not many are expected to have their accounts deactivated, Parker said, noting drivers have long been expected to meet a minimum rating threshold which can vary city to city.

"Respect is a two-way street, and so is accountability," Parker said. "While we expect only a small number of riders to ultimately be impacted by ratings-based deactivations, it’s the right thing to do."

Riders also will have to confirm they understand the updated community guidelines or they could lose access.

According to Uber, a rider needs to take five trips before getting a rider rating. To see ratings, open the app and touch the menu. Your rating is the number displayed under your name, Uber explains on its website.

"The rating system works to make sure that the most respectful riders and drivers are using Uber," the website explains. "Ratings are always reported as averages, and neither riders nor drivers will see the individual rating left for a particular trip."

Uber recently launched a new Quiet Mode option in premium Uber rides to allow riders to specify what level of conversation they'd like during their rides. The options are on the app are “quiet preferred” and “happy to chat."

Follow Kelly Tyko on Twitter: @KellyTyko