A Lyft to the bus:
Phoenix and ride service team up to provide easier access to transit stops
A new program dubbed “First Mile Last Mile” will allow riders in some Phoenix areas to use the popular ride sharing app Lyft at a reduced rate for rides between their homes and one of more than 500 bus stops in the city.
Phoenix can’t place a bus stop in every backyard, but with the help of popular ride sharing app Lyft, the city aims to make it seem that way.
A new program dubbed “First Mile Last Mile” will allow riders in some Phoenix areas to use Lyft at a reduced rate for rides between their homes and one of more than 500 city bus stops.
The partnership, launched Wednesday, encourages residents who live in the northern- and southern-most portions of the city — where transit opportunities are limited — to take Lyft to the nearest bus stop, where they access the city’s expansive central transit grid.
Lyft is giving these riders a 20 percent discount on up to 10 rides to and from the bus stops during the six-month pilot program.
“By working together, Lyft can bring the Phoenix public transit department services within reach to more people and provide an enticing alternative to getting to downtown Phoenix or other parts of town without a car,” Lyft regional general manager Drena Kusari said at a press conference.
The pilot program only encompasses portions of the city north of Union Hills Drive or south of Buckeye Road. There are more than 500 bus stops residents can connect to within those areas.
Kusari and city officials indicated the partnership could expand in the future.
“It is a great partnership in allowing our passengers to get back and forth, whether it’s to their work, to school, to home, to places to go have fun,” Phoenix Public Transit Director Maria Hyatt said.
Lyft has similar programs in other big cities like Boston and Chicago. According to the city’s website, an estimated 25 percent of Lyft users nationwide use the service to connect to public transit.
“At Lyft, we actually share the city’s vision of creating opportunities for residents to spend less time in their cars and less money on gas and protect air quality while also improving the overall quality of life in our city,” Kusari said.
In 2015, Phoenix voters approved a sales tax hike for a $31.5 billion transportation plan that will increase light rail, bus and other street projects during the next few decades.
Mayor Greg Stanton said he was often asked then if the popularity of ride sharing would hurt public transportation.
“I said then, and I repeat today: Just the opposite. Ride sharing companies and great public transportation can work side by side and can actually benefit each other, can actually leverage each other,” Stanton said.
New Lyft riders can use discount code PHXRIDES to get $5 off their first four rides. Existing users can use code TRANSITPHX for 20 percent off up to 10 rides to and from select transit stops.