​Lyft Review: A New Innovation to Public Transport

Have you ever felt at one point that you are not in the mood and you feel too tired to hop in your car and drive around, most especially if there is traffic ahead? Or maybe, you have just gotten off from a long day at your work or somewhere else, and you still have to walk a few blocks away to get a ride…most especially if you have heavy items of baggage in tow. Just the thought of it makes you want to stay at the same spot instead, right? Those are only a few instances where you wish you had your own personal ride to come and pick you up and take you to your desired destination. That is now when ride-hailing or carpooling platforms such as Lyft come into the picture.


What is Lyft?

Just like the popular ride-hailing platform, Uber, Lyft also offers the same type of carpooling service Uber has. It was launched in 2012 and has its headquarters currently based in San Francisco, California, USA. Lyft rides are easily recognizable in public because of its pink mustache trademark. This is a fun way of getting the attention and recognition of the people. Its primary purpose is to provide convenience and comfort to its clients or riders by offering them a convenient way of transportation without the hassle of putting too much effort into getting a ride.

How can I have access to Lyft services?

To be able all services offered by Lyft, you must first have the Lyft mobile app downloaded and installed on your smartphone. It is very easy and can easily be downloaded for free from the Google Playstore (for Android users) or from the App Store (for iOS users). Once you have the Lyft app downloaded and installed on your phone, you can now sign up and create a new account on Lyft.

Here are easy step-by-step instructions on how you can download and create your own personal account on Lyft:

1. Open the Google Playstore or Apple App Store.​​
2. Once the Google Playstore or Apple App Store is opened, search for the Lyft app, and then download and install it on your smartphone.
3. Once the Lyft app is downloaded and installed on your smartphone, open the Lyft app.
4. Once the app is opened, you will be asked to enter your phone number. Type in your phone number and wait for the verification code sent to you by Lyft via text message.
5. On the next page, you will be asked to enter the verification code sent to you.
6. Once you have typed in the verification code, you will be asked to type in your name, email address, and a selfie or a photo of you to be identifiable to the driver.​

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See? Setting up a Lyft account is very easy! Now, one of the most important things you have to do when you sign up in Lyft is to set up your payment method. Keep in mind that Lyft does not accept cash and only accepts cashless payments for their transactions. Here is another easy step-by-step instructions on how you can set up your Lyft payment method.

1. Open the Lyft app.
2. Once the app is opened, tap on the icon with three stacked horizontal lines at the upper-left corner of the screen.
3. Once you tap on the three stacked horizontal lines, you will see several options. Tap on the option that says Payment.
4. Once you tap on Payment, you will see the available payment methods on the screen. You can choose PayPal as your payment method, or you can also link and use a debit card or a credit card as a payment option.
5. Select whatever payment method you want to have for your Lyft account. 
6. If you want to use PayPal as your payment method, tap on the tab that says PayPal.
7. Once you tap on PayPal, you will be asked to enter your PayPal login information, and then tap on Log In. Then, your PayPal account will automatically be linked to your Lyft account.
8. If you want to use a debit or credit card, tap on the Add Card tab.
9. Once you tap on Add Card, you will be asked to enter the card information. Type in the required card information, and then tap on Save.

Now, you have efficiently set up your Lyft payment method. The platform made sure that the app would have an easy and quick sign-up process to not have time-consuming experience time starting their experience with Lyft.

Want to go somewhere? Let’s go and book your first Lyft ride! Here are another easy step-by-step instructions on how you can book a ride in Lyft:

1. Open the Lyft app.
2. Once the app is opened, you will see a message that says Where are you going? Below that is a tab that says Search destination. Type in the destination you want to go to in that tab.
3. Once you have entered your preferred destination, you will notice that your current pick-up location has already been set. However, you can change it if you want by typing in another pick-up location (for example, booking a ride for another person).
4. Once you have already set up your pick-up and destination location, you will see the different Lyft ride options on the screen. Together with it, you will also see the allowed passenger count, fare price, and the estimated time to reach your destination. Choose your preferred Lyft ride option, and then tap on Select Lyft.
5. Once you have selected a ride option, you will then be paired with a nearby driver. Once a driver has been paired with you, you will be able to see the driver’s information, the vehicle’s information, and its estimated time of arrival.
6. Once you have already met your driver and have confirmed it, you can make changes to your ride. You can add additional stops or change of destination, as well as the option of giving your driver a tip. 
7. Once you have arrived at your destination, you can rate your ride experience and give a driver a tip if you want to. Your payment for your ride is automatically deducted from the payment option you have set in your Lyft app. 

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It’s not that complicated, right? Now, you can already go wherever you want without any hassle by using Lyft!


Lyft tide options available

Now, let’s say you want to book a ride with Lyft, but you have a particular specification needed for your ride. You do not have to worry because Lyft offers a variety of ride options that cater to its clients' different needs or preferences.

• Lyft -  This is the most common Lyft ride option or can also be categorized as the platform’s economy ride. This ride option can allow up to four passengers. Usually, the vehicles under this category are sedans or the common cars in the marketplace.

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• Lyft Shared – Under this option, you will have to share your ride with another passenger headed to the same location as you are. The good thing about this ride option is that you will have a lower fare to pay because it will be split between the passengers. However, this ride option is currently unavailable because of the pandemic.

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• Lyft Preferred -  This ride also belongs under the economy category of Lyft ride options. However, what sets it apart from the other ride options under this category is that it offers more comfort to its passengers. In this ride option, you will be provided with a more legroom vehicle, a more spacious vehicle most especially if you have pieces of luggage in tow, and usually a newer model car. You can also request to set the car temperature according to your preference as well as other special requests as you go on with your ride.

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• Lyft XL – This ride can cost higher than other Lyft economy ride options and accommodate up to six passengers. Minivans or SUVs are the usual vehicles used in this rides.

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• Lyft Lux – If you have the budget and want to have a classier ride experience, then this one is probably for you. The vehicles used under this category are high-end sedans or SUVs like Lexus ES, Audi, Jaguar, or BMW X3, and can accommodate up to three passengers. 

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• Lux Black – Want a ride that spells luxury? Then, Lux Black is definitely the best option for you. Imagine an expensive black car like a Cadillac Escalade or BMW 5-series type vehicle with leather or leather-like seats,  with your own professional driver like the ones you typically see in movies. Of course, this also comes with a hefty price since this is one of the most expensive Lyft ride options together with Lux Black XL. But if you have money to burn and would opt for a luxurious ride, this is for you.

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• Lux Black XL – This is another luxury ride option under Lyft. This ride offers the same touch of luxury as Lux Black. However, what makes it different from the former is that this offers a more spacious vehicle and can accommodate up to five passengers. Ultra high-end vehicles like the Lincoln Navigator and BMW X5 are among the vehicles used under this category.

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• Lyft Scooter – This is not a high-end Lyft ride option. Instead, this is another unique ride option offered by Lyft where you can rent scooters and ride them around. This offers not only convenience but is also environment friendly.
  
  

From the mentioned Lyft ride options, have you now decided which Lyft ride you want to try? You should note that the fare price varies for each ride, and not all cities offer all the abovementioned ride options. 
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​Pros and Cons of using Lyft

PROS	CONS
Convenience	Prime time
Cashless transaction	Not all ride options are available in every city
Safety	Limited service operation
Ridesharing option
Optional tipping
Cheap fares

​PROS
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• Convenience -  The primary purpose of Lyft is to offer convenience and comfort to its passengers, and lessen the struggle of daily living by offering a convenient transport option to the public. With Lyft, you will not have to struggle waiting at the side of the street to be able to hail a ride. The ride is the one that comes to you and pick you up at your selected pick-up location.

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• Cashless transaction -  With Lyft, you will not have to worry about not having cash in your pocket to pay for your ride. Lyft automatically deducts your fare from your selected payment option in your Lyft account.

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• Safety -  Although other public transports are usually safe to ride, platforms such as Lyft takes safety a notch higher than usual. When you book a ride with Lyft, you will automatically be informed of your driver’s information as well as the vehicle’s information, even including your estimated travel time. You can use this information to report any unwanted events regarding your ride or simply just to inform a trusted person about your whereabouts. And this also goes the same for the drivers as well. The driver will have your basic information for their security as well.

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• Ridesharing option – When you ride public transport vehicles like taxis or buses, there is no such thing as splitting the fare between passengers regardless of whether you are headed to the same location. However, in Lyft, when you share a ride with another passenger, you will save a few more bucks because the fare will be split equally among the passengers sharing the ride.
  
  
• Optional tipping – Although it is much better if you give your driver a tip, Lyft does not require its passengers to give a tip to their designated drivers if they do not want to.

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• Cheap fares – The base fare for a Lyft ride costs only around $1. However, your fare may vary depending on your destination, ride option, and your accumulated travel time.

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CONS

• Prime time – This is somewhat similar to Uber’s surge pricing. This means that the fare price may go higher if higher demands for public transport and lower drivers are available in the area. However, this does not apply to most of the time. This is only common during peak seasons or peak hours. 

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• Not all ride options are available in every city – Not every ride option is available in every city where Lyft operates. A particular ride option such as Lyft Lux may be available in Las Vegas, but not in another city. There are several factors affecting these limited ride options, such as the public demand for the ride or the availability of the driver or vehicle to be used.

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• Limited service operation – Unlike Uber, which is available in most parts of the globe, Lyft is unfortunately only available in the United States. So, if you want to use Lyft but are not within the United States area, chances are you will not be able to enjoy the services it offers.

​Commuting during a pandemic

Recent events in the globe, most particularly the pandemic, have affected most day-to-day activities of the public, especially when it comes to commuting. While some countries are already starting to recover from the pandemic, many are still struggling with this crisis. And even with the development and the availability of vaccines, there is still a constant risk and threat to one’s health when going to public places or sharing a space with a stranger. This is why using transportation platforms such as Lyft is beneficial because it reduces the risk of being infected with the virus and getting sick by having a limited number of people to come across during commuting. Although you might still come across strangers by sharing a ride with one or two persons, it is still better than being in an enclosed space with more strangers than the limited number of passengers Lyft allows. Also, you can always opt not to share your ride with anybody else if you want to. By choosing platforms such as Lyft for your daily commute, in a way, you are also protecting yourself by having less risk of contracting the virus in public. Another thing, if you are also going to look at it from a different perspective, you will also be helping another person to have a sustainable source of income since many have been jobless since the pandemic started. Some of those people resorted to applying and becoming drivers for this kind of platform to help their finances and make ends meet. So, by using Lyft, you are not only protecting yourself, but you will be helping another person as well.

The final say: Is Lyft a Yes or a No for me?
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The answer is an easy Yes! Although it may not be as perfect as you would want it to, there are more positive benefits than downsides when you use Lyft. Not only does it offer convenience and comfort to its passengers, but it also offers affordability and caters to the different needs and preferences of each passenger. Also, the safety and security it offers its passengers, especially during this time of the pandemic, is another important factor in why you should consider using the Lyft platform for your daily commute. So, what are you waiting for? Go on and sign up and book a ride with Lyft now!