Let’s start with the free Lyft rides in Arlington, Virginia. While the Fourth of July affair is a memorable occasion, it is also one of the most dangerous when it comes to driving on the road, since most people who come from the gatherings turn up drunk. From 2019 to 2023, statistics show that 38 percent of traffic fatalities not just in Virginia, but nationwide, during Independence Day, involved drunk driving.
With Lyft, you don’t have to worry about conquering alcoholism and driving yourself home. Free Lyft rides will be available for you this Friday, during the Fourth of July, courtesy of the SoberRide non-profit organization.
There will be free rides in Arlington from 4 p.m. Friday up to 4 a.m. Saturday. Those eligible are passengers aged 21 and above. They can use a promo code to receive a ride worth up to $15, but they can only use it once.
Organizations such as the Washington Regional Alcohol Program, which seeks to reduce drunk driving incidents in the D.C. region, will post the promotional code at precisely 3 p.m. this Friday. You can access the codes via this site.
“Lyft is dedicated to providing access to reliable and responsible rides, and we’re proud to partner with programs like WRAP to offer Lyft as an alternative to impaired driving,” Kamillah Wood, Lyft’s director of public policy for community safety, told Ridesharing Forum.
Aside from Virginia, Indiana is also joining the bandwagon. The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute will offer vouchers for discounted rides not just for Lyft, but also for Uber. It also falls under the Sober Ride Indiana program, which started in 2020.
The vouchers from this institute will give $10 discounts on rides starting Thursday this time, July 3rd, to the early hours of July 7th, Monday, plus up to 1,000 free credits available each day. These vouchers are valid for rides that start or end in Indianapolis or Fort Wayne between 5 p.m. and 3 a.m. on these days.
However, tips are excluded from the discounts. Passengers are responsible for paying charges that exceed the $10.
Also, passengers cannot reserve rides, and pickups cannot be scheduled in advance. However, the promo’s time frame is longer than that of Virginia’s.
“Driving under the influence puts lives at risk,” stated Douglas Huntsinger, the executive director of the Institute, in a press release. “Planning ahead for a safe, sober ride is one of the simplest, most effective ways to protect yourself and others on the road.”
Lyft is a ride-hailing app that connects passengers with drivers who use and drive their personal vehicles. Like Uber, you can download the Lyft app, pin your location, and book your ride. Loving this story? Share this article around online with your family and friends!