The new subscription service lets users lock in prices for their most traveled routes While city leaders and transportation planners are taking a closer look at how ride-hailing services are impacting urban traffic, Lyft wants to make it easier for users to book trips ahead of time.
The company?s new Personal Plan, which rolls out today to a select group of users, will allow riders to lock-in prices for trips to frequent destinations, as long as the fare is under $25 each way.
According to a spokesperson, Lyft?s new subscription isn?t aimed at changing passenger habits per se, or being promoted as a way to increase network efficiency to lower emissions, but rather meant to give riders the option to lock in a consistent price for the places they?re headed to and from on a daily basis. Users can set up their top routes, such as their commute to work or a trip to the nearest train station, and lock in a set price that won?t change, despite surges or other busy times. Users will also need to pay a small fee to lock in the fixed price.
Lyft had already been testing an all-access subscription plan, which provided users with a fixed number of rides per month for a flat fee ranging between $199 to $399, depending on the frequency of use.
Today?s rollout offers a more limited service that would appear to promote more prime-time travel and allow users to plan ahead.
Would this type of offer provide a more cost-effective commute to work, and perhaps pull more commuters away...