Title: “Uber and Lyft: Convenient, Cheaper Taxi Alternatives”
I recently discovered Uber and Lyft during a 4th of July celebration with an old friend in Washington, D.C. We made plans for a night out of festive drinks, and my friend introduced me to these services as our transportation for the evening. I was surprised to learn how popular these alternatives to taxis had become.
So, what’s the story with Uber and Lyft? Well, they’re convenient and often cheaper than traditional taxis. You can manage everything from booking to payment in their smartphone apps, and there’s no exchanging cash involved: you enter your credit card details on signup and that’s it.
Uber app shows you different price options based on the type of ride you want, such as a standard car or a fancier sedan. You select your option, it gives you the cost estimation, the maximum number of people that can ride, and the arrival time. After riding, you get a text and email with the final cost. One neat feature is the option to split the fare with fellow travelers, which I find quite handy.
On booking an Uber, you instantly receive a text with the estimated arrival time of your car, along with its make and model. You get another text when your ride arrives and most of the time, the driver will call too.
Uber offers four car options: UberT, UberX, Black Car, and Rush (available in some locations). UberT connects you to local taxis, UberX offers standard cars, Black Car allows you to opt for a luxury sedan or an SUV, while Rush is a courier service.
Lyft operates in the same way as Uber, but there are a few noticeable differences. Lyft cars sport a quirky pink mustache, which makes them instantly recognizable. The vibe is more social with Lyft, with their drivers usually being the youthful, outgoing type as compared to Uber’s more traditional taxi feel.
Apart from being passengers, you can join both Uber and Lyft as a driver and work flexible hours. You can easily manage your driver status from the app— allowing you to go “on” or “off” duty at your convenience.
Want to give these services a try? You can use these promotional codes for free rides (Uber: melissab214, Lyft: MELISSA2996) when you download their apps on iPhone or Android.
Just to be clear, this post isn’t sponsored. I will get some credit if you use the codes though. So, why not try out these modern taxi alternatives? It’s a win-win!