A few years ago, as I was dropping a passenger off at the airport, another request came in for a pick-up. I accepted, and shortly after, I got a call from the passenger.
They wanted to let me know that they had two dogs but that they were well-behaved, in crates, and wouldn’t cause any issues for me.
Though I’m not a huge pet lover, I do care about animals, and above that, they don’t bother me enough to make me turn down a good ride.
True to her word, the dogs never made a noise. In fact, had she not told me that she had dogs, I wouldn’t have noticed. They were silent. I don’t think they even got up inside the crate. The owner never took them out till the destination, at which time they ran inside the house.
I can’t remember if she tipped or not. But, remembering how few times I got tips back then, I would say probably not. On top of that, I’m certain that Lyft or Uber didn’t pay me extra for taking two dogs.
But now, launching on International Dog Day – yes, that’s a real thing – Lyft is launching “Pet Rides.”
What is Lyft’s Pet Rides, and what does it mean for drivers?
What Is Lyft’s Pet Rides?
Normally, when a passenger requests a ride, they’ll see things like Lyft, Lyft priority pickup, or XL.
Starting on August 26, 2024, passengers will now also be able to select Pet, which will ensure that the driver will know ahead of time that a pet is coming with the passenger. Even if the Lyft driver accepts without noticing that it’s a Lyft Pet Rides pickup, they will already have opted in to get these rides.
There is a small fee of $4 for this service, but it allows you to ensure a stress-free ride with everyone knowing and understanding that pets will be there.
In addition, for the launch of Lyft Pet Rides, Lyft will also be working with pet shelters, and riders will get additional discounts for adopting pets from participating pet shelters. So get your new best friend and a cheaper ride at the same time.
Passengers will also be able to rate their drivers with paw prints for a limited time instead of stars, which will be a nice badge for some drivers.
How Lyft Pet Rides Benefits Drivers
More money, but not much.
For every Lyft Pet Rides ride you accept, you’ll receive an additional $4.
Some will think that it isn’t that much money, and they would be right. However, for me, and I feel like a lot of people, it’s $4 more for a ride they would have taken anyway.
I’ve had several rides with pets, good and bad experiences, and I didn’t get paid more for it. Knowing I’m at least getting something extra for it is a great feeling.
One clear benefit for drivers with Lyft Pet Rides that I see is that you know ahead of time that you’ll be having an animal in your car.
The passenger doesn’t have to call ahead of time and explain in hopes that the driver is okay with it; they can now simply tap a different button when requesting a ride, and everyone is on the same page.
This is great if the driver gets the request while driving and then has to do the dangerous dance of answering a phone call while driving. Or if they still have another passenger in the car, they wouldn’t, or hopefully wouldn’t, answer when someone is in the car.
Lyft Pet Rides Is Not Service Animals
One very important thing to realize is that Lyft Pet Rides is not for service animals, or at least not only for service animals.
Some that have service animals, such as seeing-eye dogs, have found it difficult to have drivers accept the rides. Some drivers are very allergic, don’t like animals, or are even afraid of them. As such, even when an animal is a service animal, some won’t take the passenger.
This puts the passenger in a bad situation as they may now be late for something they planned for because they have to now wait for another ride.
As a driver and human being, I feel we should all do what we can to take care of everyone, especially those that have needs requiring service animals.
Though those with service animals do not need to use this service, they might choose to and spend the $4 extra simply to not be put in a bad or uncomfortable situation.
For more information, please check the following resources:
- Lyft’s Anti-Discrimination Policies: https://help.lyft.com/hc/en-us/all/articles/115012923767-Anti-Discrimination-Policies
- Lyft’s Service Animal Policy: https://help.lyft.com/hc/en-us/all/articles/115013080048-Service-animal-policy
- Downloadable Policy Copy Service Animal FAQ and Policy: https://assets.ctfassets.net/ecaxsf5u3xse/37rxua7DcxdyiAPFyVNN2s/3acbe37181e66fe3744f98ef1d3853c2/Service_Animal_Policy.pdf
- 3-Minute How-To Service Animals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SppA9cmanfY
- Service Animal Hotline: 1-844-554-1297 for direct phone support
Will You Turn Lyft Pet Rides On?
Personally, if I am already doing passengers, I’m also going to do Lyft Pet Rides and make a little bit extra money.
It would also give me something to talk to the passenger about, and I think it would likely be a fun ride.
What about you? Will you be turning Lyft Pet Rides on?
If you’re going to opt in, we recommend the following products to help you keep your car clean:
- Large Towel: https://amzn.to/4cIcdBU
- Pet stain/odor remover: https://amzn.to/4cLGeka
- Cleaning Towel: https://amzn.to/3APIUQk
- Pet hair removal tool: https://amzn.to/46XTuAZ
- Lint Roller: https://amzn.to/4fW2ISn
- Dog Treats*: https://amzn.to/3XeIa01
*Ask the owner before giving dog treats, especially service dogs.
