With technology on the rise, getting around town became easier than it it did in the old days. The use for taxis are unnecessary due to a driving app called Lyft. Many know of Lyft because of their pink furry mustache logo. The Lyft transportation network is based in San Francisco, California. In June of 2012, Lyft launched and serviced 300 U.S. cities. Lyft was launched in the summer of 2012 by Logan Green and John Zimmer. It first started as a service by the name of Zimride, which was a long-distance ride founded in 2007 but later was available for all sorts of transportation for everybody to enjoy.

Many ask what is this app that has professional taxi drivers upset. Lyft is a mobile app that allows users to request a car that comes to your destination and it costs less than a taxi. In order to use this, riders must download the Lyft mobile apple on their Apple or Android device. When the rider downloads the app, they have to sign up, enter a valid phone number and then enter a valid form of payment whether it be a credit card, linked with Apple Pay, Google Wallet or even a PayPal account. After the rider has done this, they can request a ride from a nearby driver. How this works is users first choose if you will be riding by yourself, in a line, plus or premier. Choosing to ride by yourself will be called Lyft and it just matches you with the nearest driver. Lyft line is the cheapest option through Lyft and will match passengers with other riders going in the same direction. The only downside to riding in the Lyft line is that it is not available in all cities. “I choose not to pick Lyft Line because, although it is the cheapest if I am in the rush I don’t want to wait to get the other rider, I just want to get to my destination” – Cynthia Billups, fellow lyft driver since 2015. Another option is choosing to have a Lyft Plus which matches passengers with a six-seater car and the last option is the most expensive. Lyft Premier is the most expensive choice to choose with riding with Lyft because, it matches passengers with a luxury cars.

Lyft has driving app competitors but its biggest competitor is Uber. Uber was founded in 2009 and although it is more popular than Lyft, Lyft is on the rise because of its cheaper prices.  “I have driven with Uber and Lyft before, they have very similar riding styles and request styles but I love Lyft and I choose Lyft because it cost less”- Crystal Hudson ‘16.

The Lyft app is something that is recommended as a source transportation. It is easily accessible, cheap, and you will arrive in a timely fashion.I agree with the Apple User from Apple App Reviews and  would give the app 5 stars out of 5. “Better than Uber because, it’s inexpensive, fast and reliable but the drivers that I request take so long arrive. It’s not as reliable as it used to be”.Lyft may need refining work but what app doesn’t? I definitely recommend it.