Would you rather have a car pick you up from your home and zip you directly to your destination or take the subway? Usually the subway is cheaper than a private car, but with Lyft Line, the price difference isn’t much.
In Manhattan (south of 97th street) you and a friend can get to your final destination for just 50 cents more than what it would cost you both to take the subway. Lyft has been running a $5 promotion for several weeks now and it goes until September 25.
For example, a recent Lyft Line from Avenue C and East 11th in Alphabet City to Madison Square Garden cost us $6 (before tip). That’s compared to $5.50 for the subway. Here’s why Lyft Line is better than the MTA in these scenarios:
- Lyft Line picks you up from an exact location as opposed to walking to a subway stop
- Lyft Line drops you off at the door of your destination
- Air conditioned all the way there
- No transfers
- No walking
- Generally faster than MTA
There are only two real potential negatives: First, you can’t account for traffic. Secondly, Lyft Line *sometimes* matches you up with another rider going in the same direction so that’s a crapshoot. My experience has been that I still get to my destination quicker than I would taking the subway (and I’m less sweaty).
Lyft can’t maintain $5 rides forever, but if Lyft keeps pushing out consumer-friendly promotions (like the “$5 Hot Spots”) and the MTA continues raising fares every couple of years, the subway may no longer be the cheapest option in every scenario especially if there’s two (or more).
Get $30 $20 credit off your first Lyft ride, enter STUART12 promo code:
