Owning a pet can be an incredibly rewarding experience. However, it can also make life more difficult. Even just transporting them from A to B if you haven’t got your own transport can be tough. Which is where ridesharing comes in so handy.
You Can Now Request a Lyft With Your Pet
Some pet owners have been taking their pets with them in Lyfts for years. However, there was always the chance that a driver would refuse to accommodate the request when approaching the pickup point and seeing what they were letting themselves in for. It also opens riders up to more ridesharing scams.
So, Lyft has launched Pet Ride, ensuring that pet owners are paired with drivers willing to transport your beloved dog or cat. This, as Lyft explains in its news post announcing the launch of Pet Rides, is one of its most-requested features in recent years.
Lyft’s Pet Ride will, for an extra fee, ensure that pet owners looking to transport their cat or dog are paired with drivers willing to actually do that. Because, until now, the whole thing was a bit of a lottery, as Lyft drivers’ attitudes to transporting pets could range from unfettered delight to outright refusal.
How Lyft Pet Rides Work for Riders and Drivers
For riders, Lyft’s Pet Rides means selecting the Pet option when scouring the rides available. This will match you with a driver happy to take your four-legged friend along for the ride. Quite literally.
Riders will have to pay a $4 fee plus tax for the privilege of taking their pet with them. However, this will be included in the upfront price, ensuring no nasty surprises when it comes time to pay.
Riders are allowed to bring one cat or dog, and it must either be contained within a carrier, at the rider’s feet, or on their owner’s lap.
For drivers, Lyft’s Pet Rides means the potential to earn extra fees for transporting pets. Drivers can opt out of offering this service, meaning they’ll never be matched with pet owners looking to transport one of their feline or canine friends. Those that agree to accept Pet Ride will earn the full $4 fee.
Uber Has Offered Pet Rides for Many Years
While this is a welcome addition to Lyft’s ride options, it should be noted that Lyft is a little late to the party here. Uber has been offering Uber Pet since 2019. Still, this gives pet owners a second ridesharing option that will accommodate their furry friends. Which has to be a good thing.
The only downside is that Lyft and Uber can add “pet owner” to the data the ridesharing apps collect on you.
