Your Guide to the 2015 Lyft Zombie Apocalypse

This Halloween, we’re pulling out all the stops. Hit the streets with Lyft for spooky treats, divine discounts, and a whole lotta zombies.

From zombie deliveries to Prime Time caps, we’re here to make sure your Halloween is full of good surprises only.

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WALKERS UNLEASHED

We've teamed up with Skybound’s The Walking Dead to make Halloween a non-stop thrill. Open the Lyft app to see walkers roaming the streets, and request a ride if you dare — your driver may be undead.

Love walkers as much as we do? Get your fix with the Skybound Insider program for exclusive discounts on TWD merchandise, and play The Walking Dead: Road to Survival mobile game for free now!

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ZOMBIE DELIVERY IN NYC & SF

In New York or San Francisco? Start a zombie apocalypse with the tap of a button. From 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. (local time) this Friday, October 30, you can request a free zombie on-demand. Dispatch a zombie delivery to resurrect a dead party, speed up a sluggish meeting, or just show your friends and frenemies you care.

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HOW IT WORKS

REQUEST

Slide into zombie mode. Request your zombie.

REVEAL TARGET

Meet your zombie and its handler at the curb. Lead them to your target.

ENJOY

Your handler will unchain the zombie, who will be free to attack, pose for selfies, or drool all over your office carpet.

For the faint of heart, you can follow all the undead antics by tracking #LyftZombieMode or following Lyft Zombie Delivery’s Twitter account @LyftZombieMode.

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SAVE 50% ON RIDES WITH LYFT LINE

Share the ride this Halloween and pay 50% less than original Lyft, guaranteed. We’ve created special discount zones in New York, San Francisco, and Boston that fix all Lyft Lines at 50% less than original Lyft.

 

BOSTON

For discount, ride within the zone shown on the map.

 

NEW YORK

For discount, Line must start and end south of 97th Street in Manhattan. Or, start and end within the Brooklyn zone shown on the map.

 

SAN FRANCSICO

For discount, Line must start and end north of Sloat Blvd./Cesar Chavez St., between 9 a.m. 10/31 and 9 a.m. 11/1.

To make sure we have enough drivers available on Halloween, Prime Time will still apply for these rides.

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CAPPED PRIME TIME

Your costume should be scary, not the cost of your ride. That’s why Lyft always caps Prime Time at 200%. When requests greatly outnumber available drivers, Prime Time turns on. Demand may not even push prices to 200% this Halloween, but the cap is there so you always have a safe, reliable ride during the city’s busiest hours.

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No matter where your night takes you, we’ll be here with a safe, reliable ride. Happy Halloween, and see you on the road!

Code valid for new users only, for one ride up to $20. Cannot be combined with other offers. Subject to Lyft's Terms of Service.

Lyft × McCarran International Airport

Hello Vegas, meet your new airport ride. Lyft has officially landed at McCarran Airport, so getting between the airport and the Strip has never been easier.

To celebrate this partnership, we’re giving everyone $5 off two rides to or from McCarran anytime in the next six months. To get your credit, enter the code below in the ‘Payment’ section of the app.

Getting Picked Up

Once you grab your baggage, head over to the parking garages across from your terminal. Look for your driver on the left side, waiting in the designated Lyft section. If you have any trouble locating your driver, give them a call to get their exact location.

Getting Dropped Off

Verify your location and request a ride. On the way, just let your driver know which airline you’re flying, and they will take you straight there.

So whether you’re heading to Vegas to relax, party, or try your luck at the tables, we’ll get you everywhere you need to go.

Each code good for $5 off two rides to or from McCarran International Airport. Credits must be used by 4/20/2016. Limited time only. Subject to Lyft’s Terms of Service.

#WhyILyft: Memorable Moments from Three Years as a Lyft Driver

San Francisco driver Chris is a bit of a legend in the Lyft community, although he would never say so. He’s given over 10,000 rides in the past three years, and he has a warmth about him that leaves passengers feeling more like friends by the time the ride is over. Perhaps his previous 15 years as a newspaper reporter have something to do with it. “My journalism skills are put to good use as a Lyft driver,” he says. “You learn to listen. Ask questions. Make sure you understand someone’s point and talk about it with them.” Whatever the reason, it’s made him favorite for passengers and fellow drivers alike.

Over the past three years as a driver, Chris’ passengers have awarded him titles of best friend, relationship expert, career counselor, and “cool dad.” He’s been a part of marriages, breakups, drunken confessions, dance parties, and impromptu Rent sing-a-longs at two in the afternoon. He calls these “magic moments,” and he’s got plenty of them. Lucky for us, this ex-journalist is also an epic storyteller, and he shared some of his memorable moments with us in honor of his three-year Lyftiversary:

 

"COOL DAD"

I got the oddest compliment last night while giving a ride to three students.

"Can we all agree that he (meaning me) is the cool dad we NEVER had," said the guy in the back seat.

I wasn't trying to be cool. I had been telling them that I voted against Ronald Reagan twice in the 1980s and that I liked the Talking Heads band back then. I still do.

So, the compliments change as you get older. The self-conscious guy I was back in college, sporting the same dumb haircut I do now then, is now called "the cool dad we never had."

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"WE'VE ALL BEEN THERE"

Your friend with a car. Your friend with a car. Your friend with a car.

I tried to be one just now.

David and I were laughing. Serious sarcasm. Beatles talk. I was loving it. Then — just as we pulled over on Lombard — he said "the love of my life just broke up with me."

"Oh no," I said. "That is really messed up." I decided to cancel the ride. I said the ride was on me — no payment. "It won't bring her back, but it's the least I can do," I said.

"Everybody's been there. I am not going to lie. It's going to be bad for a few weeks. That happened to me. Then I met my wife and we've been married 26 years now."

I looked at him. He had tears in his eyes. He grabbed my hand.

He kissed my hand. He said like “I am going to do this for you” --- or something like that.

"We've all been there. I am on your side."

Then he left.

I think I helped. I hope I did.

I feel awful for that guy.

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"A QUEST"

I met a guy with a special quest!

He's going to try to drink every single type of beer there is — and he says there are thousands. If you drink four or five different types beers a day, you're at 1,500 beers a year. He started his undertaking a couple of weeks ago. He has an app that helps him keep track of his progress.

"THE COMPLIMENT"

"She is so f*ing out of my league that it isn't even funny."

That's how a young lawyer described his girlfriend of six years to me at the end of a long trip from Columbus Avenue to Twin Peaks.

I'd never heard a guy describe his significant other with such passion. I was very impressed. It's not hard to praise that person when they are around. But, when you can say it with such conviction at 2 AM, with no one else around, that must be true love.

"She's a teacher. She's doing great things," he said about his girlfriend.

I wished she had heard it. I am still thinking about it. I even told another guy, my last passenger of the evening about what he said. He was impressed too. "She is so f*ing out of my league that it isn't even funny."

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"3 AM"

A contender for one of my most memorable rides of 2014: a 3 AM ride in which this young guy told me about a problem that erupted after he took his girlfriend (!) to a strip club for a lap dance. (Now, she wanted him to come to a strip club featuring guys.)

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"THIS DATE"

I had asked my passenger Debra: "How is your evening going?" She could not stop laughing.

Debra told me she’d gone out on a first date that was memorable for all the wrong reasons. Her date invited her to have a drink but did not have enough money to pay for a single drink.

She said it did not matter if her date was unemployed. They could have postponed the date. I said they could have had coffee, which is cheaper than alcohol, or a walk in the moonlight. (That's free.)

But paying for the first drink on the first date was a bit much. It cameos the same day she and a friend had discussed the minimum requirements for a good date, things like having good manners and tipping decently.

Then this date! Had the date had better, she was hopeful they might catch a movie.

I cut off the Lyft early. I told her it was more a gesture than a real savings. "it's not even the cost of a drink or anything," I added. She laughed some more. She said she was going to watch the Golden Globe Awards — and call her friend!

 

Happy three years, Chris! We’re lucky to have you in the Lyft community!

Lyft x Concur: Expensing Made Easy

We’re excited to release Lyft’s integration with Concur to better serve business travelers by making their expense reporting effortless.

Business travelers are increasingly relying on Lyft, with 57% choosing ridesharing over black cars or taxis. After countless conversations with travel managers about what they need, we are happy to offer employees a completely integrated solution where every trip automatically sends an e-receipt to Concur, so keeping track is as easy as taking a ride.

For companies, this integration means real-time visibility into employees’ Lyft expenses, and the ability to view charges in the context of their greater business data.

How It Works

To try it out, just link your Concur and Lyft accounts, which you can do in either the Concur App Center or the ‘Payment’ section of the Lyft app. After you connect, you’ll see the Concur logo next to your credit card information.

When you see the Concur logo next to your payment method, your receipt will automatically be sent to Concur after your ride is complete. Don’t worry if you forget before you ride — you can always change your payment option when the ride ends.

After the ride, you can add additional details, like trip purpose and expense code. These will be included in your receipt. Then, when it’s time to submit your expense report, you’ll find all your Lyft expenses with receipt details and notes waiting for you in Concur.

We’re always talking to travel managers and other industry leaders about how to make Lyft for Work better, and integrating with Concur is just one exciting step of many. Keep looking for continued improvements of Lyft for Work in the coming months.

The Power of the Passenger

Getting the keys to the car used to mean everything. It meant freedom, adventure, and the open road. Today, the road rules us instead, but Lyft is on a mission to change that.

Increasing costs, parking headaches, and congestion have chipped away at that freedom. With car ownership now at $9,000/year, the average American spends more each year to own a car than on groceries.

Lyft wants to give you that freedom back. But it’s the freedom of driving without the need for car ownership. Our vision is to improve cities through better transportation, and a cornerstone of this mission is making car ownership optional.

 

THE ALTERNATIVE TO CAR OWNERSHIP

Transportation is fast becoming a service — a ride when you need one, without the burden of car payments or parking tickets. When we asked passengers how Lyft has changed their car usage, 60% said they use their personal vehicles less because of Lyft. And because of Lyft, 46% said they would avoid owning a car entirely.¹

Sacramento couple Leslie and Nick Mancebo recently chose to be a single-car household. Whenever they both need the car, one of them just takes Lyft. “Lyft has played a big role in allowing us to still get around easily and affordably,” Leslie says.

A quarter of passengers use Lyft to connect to transit. “I don't live very close to public transportation, so I use Lyft Line to connect me to other modes of transportation,” says Rei-Ling Dulebohn, a Lyft passenger in San Francisco. Rei-Ling represents a new generation that doesn’t want to own cars, and wants alternative transportation options.

Reducing car ownership decreases congestion and opens up opportunities to use spaces once dedicated to cars. Parks instead of parking lots. Community areas instead of congested areas.

Our country’s dominant mode of transportation, driving alone, isn’t sustainable. Sharing the ride is our future. Across the U.S., Lyft is providing flexible earning opportunities for drivers, improved transportation access for passengers, and gains in local economic activity.

THE POSITIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF LYFT

Whether you want to own a car or not, everyone benefits when it’s easier for people to get around their cities. More than half of passengers said that Lyft allows them to get to places that are otherwise inaccessible. Lyft’s affordability and convenience has made it easier for people to explore more of their cities, stay out longer, and enjoy a safe ride home.

The result? A direct impact on local economies. In 2014 alone, additional spending by Lyft passengers generated an extra $225 million in local markets.

Here’s a look at the time and cost savings of passengers in our first seven cities:

In 2014,
additional spending by Lyft passengers generated an additional $225 million for local economies

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Lyft’s Impact on Local Economies

2014

San Francisco

Passenger Hours Saved: 1,500,000

Passenger Cost Savings: $48.5 M

Impact to Local Economy: $82 M

Los Angeles

Passenger Hours Saved: 1,300,000

Passenger Cost Savings: $51.2 M

Impact to Local Economy: $73 M

Chicago

Passenger Hours Saved: 237,100

Passenger Cost Savings: $6.4 M

Impact to Local Economy: $16.4 M

Washington, D.C.

Passenger Hours Saved: 347,500

Passenger Cost Savings: $2.1 M

Impact to Local Economy: $6.9 M

Boston

Passenger Hours Saved: 145,900

Passenger Cost Savings: $3.5 M

Impact to Local Economy: $12.6 M

San Diego

Passenger Hours Saved: 208,300

Passenger Cost Savings: $9 M

Impact to Local Economy: $21.4 M

Seattle

Passenger Hours Saved: 150,800

Passenger Cost Savings: $3.8 M

Impact to Local Economy: $12.4 M

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Leslie, Nick, and Rei-Ling are just three of the millions of people powering this movement. With more than a million rides a week in more than 150 cities, we’re well on our way. And we’re just getting started.

 

¹ Between November 2014 and February 2015 we surveyed more than 5,700 passengers and 2,600 drivers across San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Seattle, Chicago, Boston, and Washington, D.C. Survey Analysis conducted by the Land Econ Group.

Great Scott! DeLorean Rides in NYC

In Back to the Future II, Marty McFly time travels forward and lands 30 years later, on 10/21/2015 — which just happens to be our present day. Since hoverboards are still in beta testing, we decided to celebrate with a true classic: the DeLorean. We’ve teamed up with Verizon for #WhyNotWednesday to give free DeLorean rides around NYC.

MCFLY MODE

With the help of Verizon, we’re bringing an unforgettable transportation experience to NYC on Wednesday: McFly Mode. Request a ride in McFly Mode for a chance to get picked up in a DeLorean and take a free ride for up to 15 minutes. Don’t worry — these DeLoreans aren’t equipped with Flux Capacitors, so where you’re going, we still need roads.

McFly Mode will be available in Manhattan Wednesday, 10/21 from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

See you on the road! Unless you’re chicken…

Reno’s New Favorite Ride has Arrived

Great news: Lyft is now live in Reno! So whether you’re hitting a casino or heading to Tahoe, Lyft is your ride for every reason.

Council-members Oscar Delgado and Neoma Jardon take Reno's first Lyft ride!

Getting Started

Ready for your first Lyft adventure in Reno? Here’s how Lyft works:

1. Download Lyft

Sign up and add a payment method.

2. Request a Ride

Get matched with a nearby driver in minutes.

3. Hop In

Wanna chat? Hop in the front seat. Feeling quiet? Slide into the back. You choose your ride experience.

4. Pay Instantly

When the ride ends, simply pay through your phone.

 

New! See Your Ride History in the Lyft App

Our newest feature puts all of your ride details in one place: the app.

Your complete ride history is now just three taps away on both iOS and Android. Open the Lyft app, then go to the menu in the top left corner. Select ‘Ride History’ to see the basics of every ride you’ve taken.

Tap into any ride, and you’ll uncover another layer of information: the map and pricing details you’d previously only find in an emailed ride receipt. If you accidentally leave half of your centaur costume behind on Halloween night, ride history can take care of that, too. Scroll down to see buttons for lost and found, a price review, and tipping.

We’ll still email your receipts, but they’ll serve as a ‘just in case’ now that your details are all in one place.

11 Things in Boston that are Better when Shared

Boston’s one of those cities where once you discover it, you’ll want to share it with everyone. Luckily, Lyft Line has arrived in Boston to make exploring the city more affordable than ever. Grab a buddy and go share these local favorites:

1. A Nutella cannoli at Caffe dello Sport. In a neighborhood full of pastry shops, Caffe dello Sport is one of the best — and without the long line you might find at other spots in the area. The Nutella cannoli is not to be missed, so take a friend and dive in! It’s rich enough to put both of you in a sugar coma.
2. Ice cream from Toscanini. This award-winning shop has 32 flavors at any one time, ranging from simple vanilla to unique flavors like bourbon-gingersnap and B3 (that’s brown butter, brown sugar, and fudge brownie).
3. Brunch at The Paramount in Beacon Hill. You might spend an hour or two waiting in line on a Saturday morning, but The Paramount’s brunch is worth it. The line moves cafeteria-style, so bring just your best pal instead of the whole squad to make finding a table easier.
4. A concert at The Middle East. The Middle East is always bumping with live music from well-established acts to the best indie and up-and-coming artists. Whether upstairs, downstairs, or at Zuzu, there’s always something cool going on. Call a friend and put on your dancing shoes — it takes two to tango, after all.
5. Onion rings at Mr. Bartley’s. This historic joint in Harvard Square is known for their juicy burgers, homemade frappes (that’s milkshakes for you non-Bostonians), and massive stacks of shoelace onion rings. One order is truly monstrous, so enjoy with a friend to be kind to your arteries. Pro tip: Visit Bartley’s over a holiday, when you won’t have to fight the crowds of students for lunch.
6. A walk along the Greenway. Take an afternoon to enjoy this mile-and-a-half long park, filled with contemporary art, sculptures, and fountains. Food trucks and free events can often be found throughout the park.
7. A shopping spree at the Garment District. This isn’t your typical day at the mall. The Garment District is a secondhand department store, where half the fun is rifling through giant piles of discounted clothing. With some clothes for a dollar a pound, you might need a friend to help you carry it home. October bonus: pick out your Halloween costumes here — you never know what gems you’ll find.
8. A walk along the Charles River Esplanade. Take a stroll through this iconic park, which has some of the best waterside views in Boston. If you’re feeling ambitious, lace up your running shoes and meet a friend for an al fresco workout.
9. The view from the top of the Pru. Looking for sweeping views of the city? Look no further than the Skywalk Observatory at the top of the Prudential Center. Take in the 360-view with a good friend and a good camera.
10. An afternoon reading in the Boston Public Library reading room. If you think you couldn’t possibly get excited about a library, think again. The BPL’s reading room in Bates Hall is one of the most beautiful places to soak up the history of Boston. Take a book or your laptop (they offer free wi-fi and plenty of outlets) and spend an afternoon with a study buddy. While you’re there, be sure to stop by the courtyard.
11. Your Lyft ride. Now that Lyft Line is in Boston, you can share the ride with other passengers going your way for a lower price. That means you’ll have more money for adventures, and maybe even a new friend to share them with.

See you on the road!

 

Our Commitment to Always Treat You Better

Today at Lyft HQ in San Francisco, we announced exciting new initiatives for our incredible community including the first-of-its-kind Express Pay product, and new partnerships with Shell and Hertz.

We are growing our ecosystem of partnerships and programs that provide Lyft drivers with more tools to achieve their personal goals and dreams. On the heels of Starbucks and Didi Kuaidi announcements, we’re thrilled about more exclusive relationships that benefit the entire Lyft community.

 

Express Pay Instant Deposits

One of the characteristics drivers like most about driving for Lyft is the flexibility to create your own schedules. Now, we’re giving you the power to receive your earnings faster than ever when you want to get paid.

Express Pay, available in November, empowers drivers to get paid the same day they drive. Once you've earned at least $50, you can simply tap the “get paid” button found on the app's Driver Stats page. Your funds will be deposited instantly.*

We built this new feature with our friends at Stripe – who share our commitment to always improve your experience, including with payments. We’re the first Stripe customer to unveil this product, and the first and only ridesharing company to deliver instant payouts, giving you the ultimate flexibility. We can’t think of a better way to treat you better than letting you get your money faster.

 

Save at Shell with Fuel Rewards

We’re introducing an exclusive partnership with Shell Fuel Rewards that will significantly reduce the amount of money Lyft drivers pay for fuel at participating Shell stations.

With Lyft’s Shell Fuel Rewards, the more you drive, the more you save. Based on the number of rides you give in a week, you’ll earn a discount – anywhere from 3 cents per gallon, to several free tanks per week!

We will be piloting this in a several markets over the coming months, and expect to rollout nationally to 12,500 Shell stations across America early next year. Like other partnerships in the Accelerate driver rewards program, such as Allstate Roadside Assistance and Verizon preferred rates, we’ve selected partners and programs that best match your top needs and priorities.

 

Rent and Drive with Hertz

Now you don’t even have to own a car to be a Lyft driver. Today, we announced a Hertz pilot program. Already live in Las Vegas, Hertz cars are available to Lyft drivers at special affordable daily, weekly, and monthly rates. Approved drivers can quickly rent cars on-demand and earn money as a Lyft driver with no long-term lease commitment.

The partner ecosystem we’ve extended today is a big step forward in bringing people and communities together through better transportation. We’re building the ultimate experience for fun, flexibility and empowerment where you can rent a car, fill it with discounted gas, meet new people, stop for a Starbucks coffee, and have your earnings deposited into your bank account all in the same day.

 

*Depending on drivers’ banking institutions; most drivers will receive instant deposits, some banks won’t allow funds to appear until next day; transaction expense per deposit is $0.50, paid by the driver.

 

NYC, Keep the Party Going with $8 Lyft Lines

We’re changing the rules so you can keep riding for less than everyone else in NYC.

Instead of just letting the city’s $5 Lyft Line zones end today, we felt there had to be a way to keep the party going. We crunched the numbers. We reexamined our maps. We looked to the sky for hidden messages from the blood moon. We wanted to offer the most coverage for the lowest price, for as long as possible. Then, we found it.

For a limited time, you’ve got $8 Lyft Lines in the same areas of Manhattan and Brooklyn. They’re the same discount zones, so you can ride from as far as Greenpoint to Red Hook for only $8.

Don’t miss out — these prices are for a limited time only!

Limited time only. Valid for Lyft Line rides only. $8 price for one rider and $1 for an additional rider. Brooklyn rides must originate and end within qualifying Brooklyn $8 zone. See the app for qualifying Brooklyn rides. Manhattan rides must originate and end in Manhattan south of 97th Street. Does not apply to cross-borough rides. Subject to Lyft’s Terms of Service.

Win a Las Vegas Getaway

The good news: Lyft is now in Sin City. The even better news: We want you to be there too!

That’s right — we’re giving away a Vegas vacation to one lucky winner. That means airfare, hotel, and Lyft credits to take you from the Strip to Fremont Street and everywhere in between. Jackpot.

To enter, tell us why you need a Vegas escape on Twitter or Instagram, tagging @Lyft and #VivaLyftVegas by 11:59 p.m. on 10/09 for a chance to win.

Photos: Local Wanderer

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