Everyone’s heard of Uber—the ubiquitous personal chauffeur company is so commonplace, I wouldn’t be surprised if you could catch a ride on Antarctica. But now Lyft, its pink mustachioed competitor is rolling out to 100 more cities too, and they want you to drive for them.
In a blog post on its website, Lyft says the company will increase coverage to 300 cities total, providing improved transportation for “231 million people nationwide—about 72 percent of the country.”
The service expansion will include areas in the Southwest, the Southeast, the Carolinas, the Rockies, the Midwest, New England and Central California. It’s already available in many major cities (find out if they service your area here), but the expansion will target a number of new cities in Michigan and a huge swath of New England.
Now comes the important part: Lyft wants you to become a driver with them. There have been a number of stories about people who lose their jobs and end up driving for Lyft—and making their living that way.
If you just want some extra cash (or are in a tight spot yourself), signing up online is as easy as clicking. You work when you want, keep 100 percent of any tips you make, and collect a share of the ride fee. The company even says that drivers can earn up to $35 an hour. Whenever you feel like you’re done driving for the day, just log out of the app.
Of course, there are some minor details: your car has to be from 2005 (or newer), have four doors, pass a safety inspection and have up-to-date registration and insurance. You also have to be at least 21 years old and have at least one year of driving experience.
Your services will be especially needed if you’re in one of the under-served areas where Lyft plans to roll out. You can use the fare calculator on the website to see how much you might be able to pull in. Just type in how many hours you’d want to work and your city and see what comes up.
So, what do you think, would you want to get behind the wheel for Lyft?
An aspiring food and health writer, native Chicagoan, and nut butter enthusiast. Jessica is also the creator of BiteMeBlog, but don't call her a foodie More.
