In the past couple of weeks you may have noticed cars with pink mustaches taking over the streets of Memphis. No, it’s not a weird new Memphis gang and no, don’t fear that a prankster is going to decorate your car while you’re in Starbucks. The pink mustaches are part of a start-up car service called Lyft. Aptly named, lyft will give you a lift anywhere you need to go and all you need to do is summon them using an app on your smartphone. It can track your current location, making pick-up a breeze, and drivers use an included GPS system to get you swiftly to your destination.
Lyft, however, has been stirring up some trouble in the transportation community. Taxi companies have been losing revenue due to Lyft’s easy sign-up system and competitive rates. Drivers are not officially considered “employees” by the company, rather they are independent contractors who designate their own hours and schedule. While the company does insure the riders who partake in the program, costs like gas and car maintenance are the responsibility of the drivers, who, since not technically employed by the company, do not qualify for employee benefits and are not unionized. By cutting these costs Lyft is able to keep their pricing so low; in fact they recently made a permanent 30% cut on fares meaning riders are saving 30% off of previous rates.
The service is cheaper than calling a cab, and since all drivers are vetted by a team of Lyft experts, totally safe and fun. Every car ride begins with a fist-bump and most drivers will offer you a bottle of water, to charge your phone, or to pick your own music. The service was designed to make transportation a more fun and user-friendly experience and they are successful so far in achieving just that.
Rhodes students and their friends are now eligible to get a free $25 credit towards their first ride when they sign up. Use the code: LyftRhodes when you’re putting in your payment information to redeem your credit! Not in Memphis for the summer? Check out all the cities that Lyft is servicing here and use your code anywhere! www.lyft.com/cities