Lyft requires drivers and riders to wear masks
Now when you order a car, you have to worry about catching and transmitting COVID-19.
That's why Lyft announced Thursday it's requiring both riders and drivers to wear masks. In the Lyft app, you'll have to go through a checklist of personal safety commitments before you can ride or drive.
Before you get in the car, you have to assure Lyft that you are symptom-free, and that you'll wear a mask, keep the front seat empty, and roll down the windows for airflow. You can cancel a ride if you're concerned about a driver (or a rider) not wearing a mask. If someone keeps violating the mask rule they can get suspended from Lyft.
The new requirements will start in a few weeks.
"We believe being part of the Lyft community comes with a shared responsibility to protect one another," Angie Westbrock, head of Lyft's COVID-19 task force and VP of global operations, said in a call with media.
Riders have to provide their own masks, but Lyft has set aside $2.5 million for masks and hand sanitizer for drivers. Those supplies have been distributed at Lyft Hubs throughout the country and include one reusable, washable cloth mask. Last week Lyft offered free One Medical virtual care and coronavirus screenings to drivers, who don't have health insurance or paid sick leave as independent contractors.
Uber isn't requiring masks to ride yet, but a spokesperson said in an email, "We continue to urge all riders and drivers to wear masks or face coverings when using Uber.”
Like Lyft, Uber is providing safety equipment for drivers. Drivers and riders can cancel if they feel uncomfortable for safety reasons, like if someone is not wearing a mask. Uber partnered with telehealth provider Ro for free health screenings for drivers. Uber doesn't provide health insurance to its drivers.
Other than masks, ride-sharing will also look different inside the vehicle. Taxi and rideshare advertising platform Firefly is offering free protective plastic sheets to its gig drivers. They're temporary barriers that drivers can install to protect the driver and passenger in the backseat. With partitions from Firefly, Uber and Lyft cars will look more like taxis.
The safest option: Stay home and don't order rides.
UPDATE: June 15, 2020, 11:41 a.m. UTC Over the weekend, Lyft implemented its mask requirement for drivers and riders after first announcing the requirement in May. Now, all users will see an updated interface in the Lyft app when ordering a ride. Lyft said the latest version of the app will include a checklist and new requirements for ride-hailing trips. Uber has required masks for U.S. riders and drivers since mid-May.
Sasha is a news writer at Mashable's San Francisco office. She's an SF native who went to UC Davis and later received her master's from the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. She's been reporting out of her hometown over the years at Bay City News (news wire), SFGate (the San Francisco Chronicle website), and even made it out of California to write for the Chicago Tribune. She's been described as a bookworm and a gym rat.
