Lyft Now Offers Ride-Hailing for Teenagers
▼ Summary
– Lyft has launched teen accounts, allowing minors as young as 13 to hail rides without an adult in 200 U.S. cities.
– The service includes safety guardrails like parent-only account creation, stricter driver criteria, and features like PIN verification and real-time tracking.
– This launch follows Uber, which already offers teen accounts, and Waymo, which provides them in its Phoenix robotaxi service area.
– The teen account is part of a series of new products and expansions introduced under CEO David Risher, including autonomous vehicle partnerships.
– Lyft has also expanded into Europe through its $197 million acquisition of the multi-mobility app Freenow.
Lyft has officially expanded its service to include teenagers, allowing minors as young as 13 to request rides without an adult present in approximately 200 cities across the United States. This includes major metropolitan areas such as Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, and New York. The formal rollout follows an announcement made by Lyft CEO David Risher on social media just a couple of weeks prior.
Similar to competitor Uber, which also provides a teen account option, Lyft has implemented several safety features and strict protocols for this service. A parent or legal guardian must be the one to create the account. Furthermore, drivers eligible to accept these rides must satisfy additional requirements and undergo annual background checks. With parental consent, teenagers are permitted to bring guests along during their trips.
The platform incorporates multiple layers of security designed to give parents peace of mind. These include PIN verification for ride confirmation, the option for audio recording during the trip, and real-time GPS tracking so parents can monitor their teen’s journey. To set up an account, a parent accesses the Lyft app, selects their profile icon, and taps the “Lyft Teen” option. After entering the teen’s contact information and linking a shared payment method, the teen receives a unique sign-up link via text message to complete the process.
This move positions Lyft to better compete with Uber and even autonomous vehicle company Waymo, which offers teen rides in its Phoenix robotaxi service area. Uber began piloting teen accounts several years ago but only launched the service commercially in the spring of 2024, initially in over a dozen U.S. and Canadian cities before expanding to many more domestic and international markets, including a test in several Indian cities last year.
The introduction of teen accounts is part of a broader series of initiatives under CEO David Risher’s leadership. Lyft has been actively forming strategic partnerships in the autonomous vehicle sector with companies like May Mobility, Benteler, Holon, Tensor Auto, and Mobileye. Additionally, the company has made a significant push into the European market through its $197 million acquisition of the German multi-mobility app Freenow from BMW and Mercedes-Benz Mobility, marking Lyft’s first major entry into that region.
(Source: TechCrunch)
