Earlier this week Lyft said it has launched a new on-demand delivery service to provide essential goods, including groceries, meals and medical supplies, to people in need during the coronavirus crisis.
The US company said the offer will also provide earning opportunities to drivers suffering from a near-total collapse in demand for ride-hailing trips. The company said its drivers could be booked to deliver goods on behalf of government agencies, non-profit groups, businesses and health care organisations.
Drivers would be paid in the same way as for ride-hailing trips, based on the distance and time they travel, a Lyft spokeswoman said. But payment for the delivery service comes from a variety of sources, according to the spokeswoman, including from Lyft, the partner organizations themselves and Mastercard, which has partnered with Lyft.
Lyft said its initial partners for delivery services included Dole Packaged Foods and a group providing meals to students in need and that the delivery service would initially be available in Atlanta, Austin, Texas, Dallas, Houston, Indianapolis, Orlando, Fla., Phoenix, San Francisco, San Diego, San Antonio and Seattle, but could expand to more cities if the company finds additional partners.
