Lyft introduces new economic services to assist Arizona drivers
Mar 27, 2019, 4:49 AM | Updated: 5:29 am
(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
PHOENIX — Ride-sharing service Lyft on Tuesday announced a new initiative called Lyft Driver Services that aims to give its Arizona and national drivers economic flexibility.
The three-part program was put in place to “help drivers succeed on their own,” according to a press release.
“We believe it’s our responsibility to make Lyft work for anyone striving to provide for themselves and their families in this economy: veterans, immigrants, parents, seniors, millennials, artists, entrepreneurs,” Lyft Chief Operating Officer Jon McNeill said in a press release.
“The drivers on our platform are active members of their communities, and the majority drive in their free time to supplement their income.”
Among the services that will be offered to drivers include Lyft Direct, a vehicle service center and an expansion to the Express Drive program in Arizona.
Lyft Direct gives drivers the opportunity to open a zero-fee online bank account with instant access to earnings after every ride with the Lyft Direct debit card.
Drivers with the debit card can earn up to four percent cash back on everyday purchases, two percent on gas and one percent on groceries, regardless of credit.
Lyft drivers average about $21 per hour in the top 25 U.S. markets, according to the company.
“Research shows that people are more likely to achieve a financial goal if they actively track their progress toward it,” McNeill said.
The vehicle service center will serve Lyft drivers with everything from car maintenance to in-person tax help.
Lyft expects to offer some services with discounts up to 50 percent.
Express Drive, a program introduced in 2016 to connect qualified drivers with affordable car rentals, will expand and have more Arizona locations as a result of the introduction of Lyft Driver Services.
Express Drive allows drivers to rent cars to drive Lyft and has provided more than 180,000 people the opportunity to drive since 2016.
“This spring, we’re making Express Drive available to thousands more potential drivers by expanding the number of partner locations across the U.S.,” McNeill said.
