The Ridesharing Forum website previously reported how ride-hailing platforms are devising new ways to make the lives of seniors who use their apps easier. This is a big no for Lyft, whose best option to alleviate the issues seniors experience when hailing rides is to redesign the app so it’s more suitable for them.
Introducing Lyft Silver.
Welcome to the Lyft family, Lyft Silver!
Recently, Lyft announced Lyft Silver, its brand-new service designed for older individuals.
“… Lyft Silver, a service designed for older adults. Lyft Silver riders can easily get where they’re going with the option of live phone support, and they can share ride details with people they trust,” the service’s official page stated.
This new service is recommended for seniors as, first, the Lyft app’s icon is designed with bigger fonts. This way, senior citizens can find them faster on their smartphones.
Also, a customer support team is ready to answer the queries of your moms, dads, grandpas, and grandmas. Lyft Silver is being implemented in partnership with several medical institutions for seniors.
“[It’s not just a] new version of Lyft, but a thoughtful way to give your older mother, father, or friend the gift of independence, without the weight of worry. We poured our hearts into designing this, thinking about those we cherish most,” Lyft added.
Early access to Lyft Silver started last Cinco de Mayo, May 5th.
What experts think about its design
Unfortunately, not everyone is happy about Lyft Silver. Forbes considers it very inclusive. Now that Lyft has created a service designed exclusively for seniors, are they saying it is discriminatory against other age groups?
“It all sounds thoughtful and well-intentioned. But when I look at the list of features, I can’t help but wonder: Why are these improvements only available to seniors? Wouldn’t many of them be just as useful for riders of any age?” a correspondent for Forbes wrote.
The correspondent asked more questions than he got answers, such as whether those are the only features for older adults, whether many people wouldn’t actually find it hard to use the app designed like this, and the problem of connecting with human beings when things go south, among others.
Nah, those are negligible when you can get the Lyft Silver experience for free. Yes, it is currently offered for free. Rides are charged the same way as the regular Lyft application. Plus, the Lyft fare is based on ride route and ride type, as well as ride availability and demand.
“Developing Lyft Silver was truly a labor of care and intention,” stated Audrey Liu, Lyft’s representative for Lyft Silver. “We started by listening – really listening – to the experiences and needs of older adults. We spoke with riders, caregivers, and organizations that serve this community to understand the specific challenges they face with transportation. Things like navigating complex apps, feeling unsure about who their driver will be, or needing a little extra time and assistance.”
For more information about Lyft Silver, visit the official Lyft website.