A rideshare app resource guide for all things related to the ultra popular Transportation Network Company (TNC), Lyft.
We also cover other rideshare platforms such as Uber. Take a look at our comprehensive collection of promo code guides and step-by-step articles about the top peer-to-peer transportation & share economy smartphone apps.
Lyft or Uber
The rideshare craze – at least, its current form – all started with the launch of Uber in 2009.
Uber’s success and potential was pretty evident right off the bat, and their international expansion began in 2011 with Paris.
The summer of 2012 brought about Uber’s main competitor in Lyft.
Coming from a background in the carpool business (with more of a focus on longer distances), Lyft expanded exponentially just as Uber had when it launched.
There are now other ridesharing companies out there as well, although most of them are focused on a specific service, such as Wingz is specific to airport rides.
Finding a ride using either Lyft or Uber is incredibly easy, even for those not as technologically capable as others.
Become a Driver
As a driver in the ridesharing industry, there are different ways you can make a living.
Whether you want to put the pedal to the metal and drive full-time or just pick up a few rides here and there for supplemental income, both Lyft and Uber drivers have excellent opportunities.
Lyft now has a program for drivers called Driver Destination, which could change the landscape of carpooling as we know it.
How does it work? Basically, when a driver is already on their way somewhere, he or she can indicate this via the smartphone app, and can pick up a passenger on their way to their destination.
The driver will earn a little extra cash, and the passenger gets a low rate. Everyone wins!
There are also opportunities for earning tips in addition to bonuses for active drivers.
Promotions
Your first ride from Lyft and Uber can be free! Just use an appropriate promo code to cash in the savings.
After entering a promo code, enter your payment information, and you’re good to go!
Uber and Lyft each offer discount credit for trying their service for the first time.
There are aspects of each that are better than the other, so it’s a good idea to try both and see what you like.
Try out both rideshare apps and find out which service suits you the best.
Promotions and coupons are available for existing Uber users as well as current Lyft customers.
For current customers, their unique referral programs can be a great way to save on rideshare if you want to spread the word to friends and family.
– What Makes Rideshare Special? –
There are a number of benefits to those that utilize rideshare services, especially in today’s constantly on-the-move society. Today, carpools and rideshares come in many forms. From traditional taxi cabs to more technologically sound ridesharing companies and many options in between, today’s consumer has a multitude of options.
Statistics show that around 80% of all seats on the road are empty! Carpools or rideshare – in whichever form – alleviate that issue by pairing people and ensuring less cars on the road overall. This can provide amazing benefits including reducing traffic congestion, reduction of smog from automobiles, and lessening the amount of gasoline used by millions of drivers on the road.
Innovation with Smartphone Apps
There are companies in today’s technologically-savvy landscape that are changing the way we consumers look at traditional carpools.
Ride-hailing smartphone apps are the latest innovation to rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft.
These rideshare apps provide a convenient way to request a ride with fast pickup times and cashless payments.
From private rides to carpools and everything in between being offered to regular, everyday people, the ride share era is in full swing.
Between reducing traffic, stress, and carbon emissions, these companies are changing the transportation industry for the better.
Gone are the days of waiting for a cab that will show up late, if at all. Now YOU have control of your ride.
Get an Inexpensive Ride in Minutes
If you’re looking for the most eco-friendly and sustainable way to get around these days, both Uber and Lyft have ride pool options when requesting a ride.
Say what?! Yep. Uber calls it Uber Pool, while Lyft’s service goes by the name Lyft Line.
The idea of both services is that you can share a ride with another passenger – or maybe even more than one! – headed in the same general direction and share the cost. Drivers get paid the same amount without added mileage, and passengers get a cut on their bill: it’s a win-win.
The best part is you can get a rideshare in a matter of minutes with just a few taps on your smartphone.
It’s the ultimate hybrid of convenience and cost-savings.
Feel Safer with Ridesharing
You can feel safer when requesting a ride through a ride share app than when traditionally calling a cab.
You can see a photo of the person you’ll be riding with, as well as a photo of their car and license plate number.
You are able to share this information with others, look at reviews of the driver, and even cancel within 5 minutes if you change your mind without being charged.
Every rideshare driver has passed extensive background and criminal history checks.
Drivers do not have a recent history of alcohol or traffic related offenses.
Using rideshare as a safe ride home when consuming alcohol is a great way to utilize the service.
Ridesharing Apps for Almost Anywhere
As far as ridesharing apps are concerned, there are a few these days.
There are some small, regional platforms, of course.
However, the largest, most tested, and most user-friendly options are Lyft and Uber.
Where can I find them?
Lyft currently operates in nearly 60 cities nationwide, and Uber offers rides in 200 cities spanning 55 countries.
Both companies are still expanding, both in the United States as well as abroad.
Large cities are more often the first to gain access to these platforms, although as expansion continues, smaller cities are continually being added to their portfolios.
Uber is efficiency with elegance on top. That’s why I buy an iPhone instead of an average cell phone, why I go to a nice restaurant and pay a little bit more. It’s for the experience. – Travis Kalanick, Uber CEO via FastCompany
– Featured Rideshare Apps –
These various ridesharing services are most often these days utilized via smartphone app.
This method has been found to be much more successful than the traditional method of calling a cab and waiting without knowing when your ride would show up. These ridesharing apps are truly on-demand, with most pickup times currently around 5 minutes or so.
Lyft App
Lyft is ‘your friend with a car.’ Their company culture is more of a friendly, laid-back type of service.
This is why they have such loyal followers: because it’s comfortable and less stuffy than alternatives.
The Lyft app – for both passengers as well as drivers – has undergone some redesigns and improvements over the last couple of years and is quite user-friendly.
You can compare price points and arrival times for various ride options, check all of your driver’s info, and easily redeem free ride credit with just a few taps.
There is also a new feature that helps drivers and passengers find each other with color coordinated lights on their dashboard and smartphone, respectively.
A feature that makes Lyft more popular with drivers than it’s prime competitor – Uber – is the ability to tip your driver through the app. This allows drivers to make more money based on their performance, which keeps both drivers and customers happy.
Uber App
Uber takes pride in having a more professional, less casual company culture. They did, after all, begin as a black car service only, and evolved into a rideshare service with multiple options.
They also have loyal followers who prefer a less personal experience, one with which they can sit quietly in the back seat and work or get a couple of tasks done on the way to their destination.
Their app has been redesigned and improved over the last few years as well and is heralded now as being very user-friendly and easy to navigate for drivers as well as passengers.
Passengers are able to compare features as well as communicate with the driver, estimate the cost of a ride, and even play their own music through Spotify.
Another popular feature includes the ability to send your information to another person so that they can track your ride as it progresses.
This as well, as other great additional safety features continue to enhance the reputation of rideshare apps such as these, and we all end up winning.
– Top USA Cities –
Los Angeles
Rideshare services are picking up and growing quickly in Los Angeles.
It makes sense for both residents of the city as well as tourists: it’s big, and it’s crowded.
The city is notorious for poor public transit, and with the different neighborhoods so spread out, finding adequate transportation can sometimes be difficult.
Not to mention parking can be a hassle!
Uber and Lyft are both currently operating in Los Angeles, with growth reportedly still increasing.
Chicago
Ridesharing in Chicago is seeing some of the most prominent growth among large cities around the country.
The regional headquarters expects to quadruple its reach over the next couple of years, creating a lot of jobs in the process.
For a city so reliant on taxis in the past due to traffic, congestion, and poor parking options, people are thrilled to have something new and hassle-free to utilize instead.
These services actually help reduce traffic and parking problems, creating a better environment for Chicagoans all around.
Seattle
If you’re looking to hail a ride via rideshare in Seattle, you’re in luck.
Both Uber and Lyft are offering record-low pricing for rides throughout the city, and it looks like they’re staying.
Studies have actually shown that these decreased rates cause demand to go up, which means drivers actually end up making more money while passengers continue to save.
This theory has been tested in many cities, including Chicago and New York City, and has been proven to be cost-effective all around.
It’s a win-win for everyone!
San Francisco
This is really where it all began!
It really is, though. The idea for Uber came from the notoriously poor taxi services in the city. Then rideshare was born!
Uber and Lyft, as well as many other (mostly small) ridesharing companies, all have their roots in San Francisco’s share-centric culture.
The city is also known for its plethora of on-demand services, so rideshare fits right in.
In fact, here more than anywhere else, you can find a variety of ridesharing options tailored to your specific needs.