Lyft to offer free rides in under-resourced Black communities

Lyft is teaming up with non-profit organizations across the nation to provide 1.5 million donated and discounted rides to help boost “upward mobility” in under-resourced Black communities, company officials announced last week. 

To help carry out the task, it has formed an alliance with 11 national organizations including the U.S. Black Chamber of Commerce, National Black Chamber of Commerce, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, National Urban League, and My Brother’s Keeper Alliance.

Called the LyftUp Access Alliance, it is being initiated to help Black residents affected by COVID-19 get to job interviews, grocery stores, medical visits, and other appointments, said John Zimmer, president and co-founder of Lyft, in announcing the initiative last week. 

John Zimmer

Affordable, reliable transportation is one of the biggest drivers of social and economic mobility, he said. 

“Transportation costs are the second largest expense for most American households, taking down on average 20 cents of every dollar of income and as much as 55 cents for every dollar earned by the poorest households,” Zimmer said. “In large metro areas, Black Americans typically have longer commutes, and Black households in America are more than three times as likely to not own a car.”

Pandemic heightens needs in Black communities 

Valerie Jarrett, a Lyft board member and former senior adviser to President Obama, said affordable transportation is more important than ever as Black communities struggle with higher rates of unemployment and illness during the pandemic.

“From COVID testing and food delivery to mental health and job readiness, the LyftUp Access Alliance will support access to the essential services Black individuals and Black communities need to survive and thrive in the wake of COVID,” Jarrett said.

Anthony Foxx, chief policy officer at Lyft and former U.S. transportation secretary, and 

Valerie Jarrett, a Lyft board member and former senior adviser to President Obama, said affordable transportation is more important than ever as Black communities struggle with higher rates of unemployment and illness during the pandemic.

“From COVID testing and food delivery to mental health and job readiness, the LyftUp Access Alliance will support access to the essential services Black individuals and Black communities need to survive and thrive in the wake of COVID,” Jarrett said.

Anthony Foxx, chief policy officer at Lyft and former U.S. transportation secretary, and Marc Morial, the president and CEO of the National Urban League and former mayor of New Orleans, also spoke during the announcement about the need to reach out to communities of color right now.   

Founding organizations

Lyft has teamed up with 11 national organizations to aid disadvantaged communities of color with transportation and other services through LyftUp Community Grants

The founder organizations are:

  • NAACP
  • NAACP Legal Defense Fund
  • National Black Chamber of Commerce 
  • The National Action Network
  • The National Urban League
  • United Negro College Fund
  • U.S. Black Chamber of Commerce
  • Black Women’s Roundtable
  • Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
  • My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, an Obama Foundation initiative
  • National Bail Fund Network

Local non profits may can apply for ride credits 

The Alliance plans to offer access to more than 1.5 million cars, bikes, and scooter rides to help Black communities reach essential services and resources during the pandemic.  

Local non profit and community organizations interested in applying for ride credits to provide transportation access in their communities can do so at: LyftUp Community Grants.

Victoria Harker

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