Britt's Lyft Story

Another Lyftactular submission from a happy Lyft passenger! Thank you, Britt!

First of all, I am terrified of cabs. Don't know why but I have had a fear of cabs since I was a kid, so I avoid them at all costs. When I didn't have a ride to the airport, I was stricken with fear that I would have to beckon a cab, scrambling to find a gracious friend. 

Then I remembered Lyft - I've heard nothing but great things and something about the concept doesn't scare me. Maybe its knowing that I will be taken care of by a peer, someone I can connect with and not feel chaperoned by. My Lyft driver arrived quickly, took directions well, wasn't a crazy driver, wasn't seeking out the slowest routes and didn't criticize my last-minute manner (he basically had 30 minutes to get me to Burbank from Hancock Park at the start of rush hour). I felt comfortable and taken care of and loved that I didn't have to scramble for cash or argue over the fare. 

From a girl who will never take a cab anyway.

THANKS LYFT for offering a service for people like me. :]

Britt

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Casey's Lyft Story

Another Lyft story submission. This one is from Casey. Thank you for sharing, Casey!

Bad cab experience:

Literally robbed by a cab driver. We were counting out our tip for the driver and he took every last dollar we were holding in our hands.

Lyft experience:

Consistently getting rides from courteous people and the ability to directly call my driver is such a huge deal to me. I get stuck in really strange places. Thoughtful rides from Glendale to WeHo as well the huge savings have made it one of the best ways to get home. Huge, huge thank you especially since I do not live in Cali year round.

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Vivian's Lyft Story

Another Lyftastic submission from an LA Lyft passenger! Thanks for sharing, Vivian.

I moved here in 2006 from NYC. I can't believe how expensive it is to take cabs in this city and there is zero public transportation...unless you want to wait a million years for a bus and then transfer 10 times.

On the weekends when I want to go out, typical LA cabs routinely take 45-60 minutes to arrive (after prolonged, obnoxious conversations with dispatch); They refuse to take credit cards, or bully me in to stopping at ATMs; They are unable to figure out navigation devices (forcing me to guide them step-by-step on my iPhone or get charged extra when they keep 'getting lost'); They are just generally unpleasant and rude.

Not so with Lyft... the fare is always reasonable, the drivers professional and the service quick and easy.

Lyft has saved me on numerous occasions and it has kept many of my friends from driving home drunk out of sheer desperation.

Long Live Lyft!

Vivian

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Taxing

It's a Saturday night. March 30, 2013, to be exact. With my hair and makeup completed in old Hollywood style, I put on a fitted, stylish black dress (think Sophia Loren at Romanoff's, circa 1957)  and a pair of 6" Louboutin peep-toe pumps. I was excited. Due to work, travel and personal preference, there's months I don't go out much at all. On this particular Saturday though, I was meeting friends I hadn't seen for a very long time for a birthday celebration.

Of course there would be drinking involved so a cab would definitely be in order for the evening. Although the restaurant I was meeting my friends for dinner was only a mile away, there was no way I was going to saunter (yes, ladies, you should saunter when in aforementioned Loubies) the short distance while also carrying a bottle of wine and wrapped gifts for the party.

Cab called. I waited. 

Cab finally arrives. It's a dusty mini-van. Okay, fine. I know I felt like a queen all dolled up for the evening, but hey, I was still just a regular girl underneath...a mini-van cab would suffice. I can't get the door open. The driver, seemingly irritated by my mere presence (perhaps he's offended by well-dressed women, I think to myself) yells something about how I'm "doing it wrong!" I really don't understand what he's saying. I just know he's not speaking to me in a nice tone and his facial expression basically touted I was an idiot. I don't allow his negative attitude to affect my good mood. I'm still feeling beautiful, now teetering on my 6" heels, armed with wine and gifts I finally struggle to open the door. Place my things inside and then struggle again to close the door.  

I tell the driver the address. He rolls his eyes, gives out a huge sigh and says abruptly, "cash only!" I look at the credit card machine right in front of my face and ask him if it's broken. He repeats, "cash only!" I told him I didn't have cash and only my debit card. He says, "I stop at ATM." This wasn't the first time this happened to me in a Los Angeles cab so I wasn't too surprised. Disgusted, but not surprised. I glance at the time on my phone and know I'm close to running late (unacceptable by my standards, ever to run late) so I know I have no choice at this point but to take this cab. 

There wasn't a bank on the way to the restaurant so the driver had to go out of the way to take me to the ATM to pay him cash. Remember the door episode? I had to now go through that struggle twice (only without the wine and gifts). So I was basically going to have a higher fare now to go through this unnecessary rigamarole. I didn't plan to start my evening this way. Not at all. 

That entire cab fiasco caused me to only be a little late (which is a lot late to me) so I wasn't feeling the love for this cab service at all by the time I carefully stepped (wobbled) out in the front of the restaurant. I still tipped the driver. I can't help it. That's just my nature. Nevertheless, I was appalled at the entire incident.

Funny thing is that as the driver rudely took the cash (and tip) I walked away feeling as though he was as unimpressed with me as a passenger as I was with him as a cab service provider I was paying for. 

Perplexing. 

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