The popular car service Lyft, which launched in Miami in May 2014, announced today a new in-app shared-ride option. Lyft Line allows users to split a ride with strangers going the same way for a discounted fare. The service acts much like Uber's carpooling concept, UberPool.
"Lyft Line matches passengers going the same route, allowing them to share the ride for a more affordable price," explains Jaime Raczka, operations executive for the company. "Lyft Line is always more affordable than regular Lyft."
Passengers who use Lyft Line can get up to 40 percent off their ride, and if their pick-up and drop-off points lie within a special area, they stand to score an even cheaper rate. The Extended Discount Zone covers downtown Miami, Brickell, Wynwood, South Beach, and Coral Gables. So basically, where people work and play — sorry, Kendall and Hialeah.
"This Extra Discount Zone is where passengers frequent the most, which is why rides are the most discounted there," Raczka says, adding that Lyft Line is still available throughout Miami, not just the discount zone.
It's like when you carpool with friends for work or a night out, but instead with a stranger who's headed to the same restaurant or bar as you. Who knows, you might even make a new friend before you step into the club.
The idea behind Lyft Line is a bold one because the company envisions making a significant impact on traffic. Miami without traffic? It's a dream we all share.
"At any given time, 80 percent of the seats in cars on the road are unoccupied, so by filling these empty seats, our vision is to have a significant impact on cities and eventually eliminate traffic altogether."
According to Raczka, there are no plans to expand Lyft Line in Florida outside Miami at this time, but the option is available in San Francisco, Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, D.C.
Lyft Line
Available throughout Miami, with the special Extended Discount Zone covering specific areas. passengers outside the zone can still receive a more affordable ride by using Lyft Line. Visit lyft.com.