Lyft says it's taking a huge step forward by going back to its "routes" and offering Driver Destination, a new service that shows everyday motorists opportunities to pick up passengers along their daily routes.
Before it took on an Uber-like, car-for-hire formula, Lyft was a ridesharing service known as Zimride. With Driver Destination, Lyft places its focus back on the traditional "going my way" style of ridesharing.
"Providing this opportunity to car owners everywhere has always been one of our goals, first with Zimride and now with Lyft, and today we've taken a huge step forward in securing that vision," states Lyft.
Motorists can turn into Lyft drivers just by checking if someone on their routes to work or the grocery store needs a ride. Driver Destination will show the motorist any passengers looking to travel in the same direction and who aren't too far off the driver's route.
"By enabling Lyft Line with Driver Destination to and from work every day, you could earn up to $400 per month -- enough to cover a car payment -- and connect with interesting people who live and work nearby," Lyft states.
Ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft continue to establish themselves in territory once dominated by taxi services. Their liberal use of the term "ridesharing" hasn't completely protected them from legal action as taxi companies push regulators to require the drivers of Lyft and Uber cars to obtain commercial licenses for their chauffeur services.
Back in September, district attorneys in San Francisco and Los Angeles sent letters to Lyft, Uber and Sidecar to compel the ridesharing companies to change their business models to comply with California state laws.
The DAs asserted the ridesharing services violated public utility code and they complained the two companies don't deliver as thorough a background check of drivers as they lead their passengers to believe.
"Each of these measures can be implemented quickly, easily and without impacting Sidecar's ability to continue operating," one of the letters stated. Sidecar is a peer-to-peer transportation network where users can chose the lowest option and know what their cost will be before they begin the ride. Based in San Francisco, it is in 10 U.S. cities.
Meanwhile, taxi services in London have been hiring undercover operatives to gather information on the ridesharing services. That information gathering is part of a war that is poised to lead Uber and London's taxi cab companies into the EU's High Court.
"In order to prosecute them we obviously had to get evidence and ride in the cars and private detectives and all of that," stated Steve McNamara, general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association.
