Starting Monday, Lyft will begin testing scheduled rides, a feature that allows users to plan their trips up to 24 hours in advance. The service will initially be rolled out in San Francisco, Lyft’s hometown.
Passengers can select a clock icon next to their pickup location in the app and set the time they’d like the Lyft driver to arrive. Rides can be updated or canceled up to 30 minutes before pickup.
Lyft may be the first big ride-hailing company to test scheduled rides, but it’s not a new concept. In 2014, when Seattle’s taxi fleet finally rolled out a mobile app, it included the ability to schedule rides in advance. Wingz, a startup that exclusively provides rides to and from the airport, also lets customers plan rides ahead of time.
“While on-demand rides remain core to our platform, we’re thrilled to offer even more options to passengers – as well as another opportunity for drivers to earn,” Lyft said in a blog post. “Testing for scheduled rides begins shortly in San Francisco, and we look forward to making the feature available to more passengers this summer.”
