Updated on March 22, 2015
Lyft and Uber are continuing to disrupt the transportation business. Lyft just launched “Lyft Line“ which would let you carpool with strangers.
Lyft says 90% of their riders have someone else taking the same trip within 5 minutes… so why not connect them. Makes sense. It will further reduce the cost versus a taxi. For now it is only available in San Francisco and only on iPhone (the Android is coming).
Check out my recent article about Lyft: “Ready for Lyft Off! 50 Free Lyft Rides in NYC Update / DONT Do This or Risk Losing Your Account” (the 50 free ride offer has expired)
If you are still not a member yet:
- Lyft: click here to claim your free Lyft ride up to $25 (sign up before it expires on 10/31/14)
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This launch came soon after Uber announced their own carpool service called UberPool, which is still in private beta. They say UberPool will be expanded more broadly on August 15th.
Despite the initial problems, I have been impressed with their service so far here in the NYC/NJ area, especially with the 50 free rides Lyft has been offered when they launch in new “Pioneer” markets. Lyft has been giving two weeks to use the 50 free rides, however, the first week has been a dud for both the NYC and NJ launches because there weren't many drivers available. And by “weren't many”, I mean zero to one. By the second week after launch, it was possible to get a free Lyft.
Taxi's are already hurting because of Lyft and Uber. Vox.com says Lyft Line may put public buses out of business. Lets see how well it works first.
Would you use these services as part of your commute?
Watch this quick Lyft video. Here are Lyft's and Uber's announcement on their blogs.
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We here in the greater DC area do this already without a company to organize it. It is called slugging. Unofficial carpooling that has worked for years without the issues you might expect. There is slugging edict and unofficial rules. I hope Uber and Lyft will not interrupt something that already works and is free.
Lynn – I had to look that up on Wikipedia. It says people do it to get access to HOV lanes or toll reduction. Is that the main motivation?
There have been many cases of people putting a dummy in the passenger seat like this guy in Boston who got caught, or this guy in Seattle who didn’t even bother with a dummy. Instead he just put a shirt around the seat. Genius!
Yes, I’d use it. I don’t see what all the paranoia is over these rideshare companies i.e. getting in to a strangers car. I mean, how well do you know the cab driver when you get in to their car? And these car pooling options will save money.
But really, I don’t see how people are so nervous about these services from a safety aspect.