Lyft ridesharing service hits the streets of Memphis

The Lyft ride-sharing app, featuring local drivers and their own pink-mustached rides, launched recently in Memphis, and the company plans to offer free rides to certain local events until May 8 to promote its entry into the market.

“Lyft is thrilled to now offer residents of and visitors to Tennessee’s largest city the most convenient, affordable and safest rides to and from all Memphis’ prolific art, music and foodie events,” says Lyft spokesperson Katie Dally. “Also, a peer-to-peer ridesharing platform known for pink mustaches on drivers’ cars is a natural fit in the home of Elvis, Graceland and the ‘Pink Cadillac.'”

On April 24 the company expanded into 24 new markets, including Memphis, in 24 hours. Lyft now operates in 60 cities, the most U.S. cities of any rides-on-demand platform. Its new markets include Albuquerque, Ann Arbor, Buffalo, Colorado Springs, Corpus Christi, Fresno, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Lexington, Lincoln, New Haven, North Jersey, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Raleigh-Durham, Rochester, San Bernardino, Spokane, Toledo, Tulsa and Virginia Beach.

“These cities–including Memphis–have strong community roots and local hometown pride that makes them all great fits for Lyft,” Dally says. “Many residents of these cities rely heavily on their own cars to get around town, and we wanted them to have an opportunity to leave their cars at home–or to give rides to their neighbors and put their empty seats to new use.”

Lyft debuted in the Nashville market in December.

The company is headquartered in San Francisco, and it does not plan to have any remote-based employees in Memphis. However, it will grow a driver community here. 

Customers can use the Lyft mobile app 24 hours a day, seven days a week to request a ride from a nearby driver. Customers can track the car’s progress through the app, which ultimately charges payment for the ride–eliminating the need to carry cash.

Drivers must pass criminal background and DMV driving record checks, as well as an in-person vehicle inspection and safety ridealong.

Lyft will compete with other similar apps/services like Uber, which also debuted in Memphis on April 24.

By Michael Waddell