Grab is doing it, so why can’t Lyft? In its historic decision, Lyft, a popular ride-hailing app in the Western hemisphere, is now also bound to offer licensed taxis via the app. Here’s the story.
You can soon book taxis via Lyft
According to a recent report on Bloomberg, Lyft will be rolling out a feature allowing you to book taxis via the app.
However, it doesn’t work the same way as booking taxis on other ridesharing apps like Grab. On Grab, you can book taxis the same way you can book private cars. Simply choose the option that’s called GrabTaxi.
With Lyft’s upcoming new feature, it is still loyal to its private car drivers. Passengers can opt to get matched with a licensed taxi only when the cab gets to the pick-up point faster than the rideshare car.
Passengers in St. Louis, Missouri, will be the first to try the new feature, beginning May 5th. The news spread even before Lyft officially announced it because users stumbled upon the feature within the code of the Lyft mobile app.
“We’re always exploring new ways to help riders get to the people and places they love,” Lyft told the media. “We’re excited to launch taxis onto our platform in St. Louis, which marks our first taxi integration in the U.S.”
How it works
Here’s how it works. Passengers who opt in to use this feature may be picked up in a cab when they choose to be picked up via a cab. Just like paying, tipping, and rating drivers of private cars, they will also be able to do so for taxi drivers.
This is a landmark feat for Lyft, especially since only a few ridesharing platforms like Uber and Grab offer taxis as options across the United States and overseas. Uber riders can choose whether they want a taxi or a rideshare vehicle. Then, they just need to wait for their chosen option at the pick-up location.
‘Excited’
David Risher, the chief executive officer of Lyft, said in a statement, “We’re seeing great demand. We’re super excited about what lies ahead.”
This is part of what lies ahead, but Risher is referring to the company’s newest groundbreaking initiatives, such as its plans to expand in Europe with its $197 million acquisition of Germany’s Freenow, which Ridesharing Forum reported earlier.
Somehow, this has preempted this news as Freenow is a taxi app. The acquisition will fuel growth for Freenow and Lyft in over 150 European cities. It is also expected to almost double Lyft’s market of over 300 million personal car trips yearly.
In February, Lyft unveiled how it has enjoyed a 15 percent year-over-year booking increase, amounting to $4.3 billion. This consists of a total of 219 million, and a 10 percent rise in active riders worth 24.7 million. The highest ever in Lyft’s history!
To start using Lyft, you simply have to download the app, launch it, tap “Search Destination,” enter your location, and then book your ride. You’ll be at the place conveniently.