Essential Deliveries is a new delivery service from Lyft, although it’s not one that’s currently available everywhere, and won’t deliver to everyone. Here’s what you need to know before getting started with Lyft's new service.
Like Uber, Lyft has been looking at ways to expand its service beyond passenger pickups and dropoffs. This is even more the case right now as demand for ride-sharing and delivery services is so low due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis. While Lyft Essential Deliveries will help in that respect by offering existing drivers an opportunity to expand their income, the service is not quite as user-facing as other services, including Uber Eats.
Lyft confirmed the launch of Essential Deliveries in a blog posting. The company explained how this is part of its wider LyftUp initiative to help drivers earn in new ways, while adding that drivers who make any deliveries under this new program can expect to be paid a similar rate to what they would get from a standard Lyft ride. As this is a pilot launch, Lyft Essential Deliveries is not operating nationwide to begin with. Instead, the service is currently being offered in these eleven US cities:
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Dallas
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Orlando
- Phoenix
- San Francisco
- San Diego
- San Antonio
- Seattle
What Lyft Essential Deliveries Actually Deliver
While Uber Eats will deliver meals from most places nearby, and services like Postmates will deliver almost anything, Lyft Essential Deliveries is just that - a service that’s focused on delivery essentials to people in need. For example, Lyft explains that the service is primarily intended to help the likes of government agencies, non-profits, and healthcare organizations to deliver to their customers. This can include groceries, meals, medical supplies, or anything else deemed necessary or essential. As examples of the type of companies involved in the program, Lyft is partnering with Dole Packaged Foods and Army of Angels. On behalf of these companies, Lyft will be transporting stock between storage facilities, and delivering school lunches to low-income families, respectively.
Due to the restrictions and targeted markets, Lyft Essential Deliveries is a very different type of service to what many might be expecting from a ride-sharing platform expansion. However, it is one which seems to be intended to help fill an important and needed role in society by helping those in need connect with those who can help. A role that’s become even more crucial since the COVID-19 is forcing so many people to remain home under a lockdown order and possible without as much assistance as they might otherwise have access to. While the service is currently only operating in select cities, Lyft says it plans to add new cities quickly with a view to helping deliver even more essentials to those who need them.
Source: Lyft