Lyft Partners with Black Organizations to Bridge Transportation Gap

On August 11, the ride-hailing company, Lyft announced its plan to partner with some Black organizations to cover the transportation gap in the black community.

“As we all know, access to basic needs—food, healthcare, employment, and reliable transportation—is essential to one’s livelihood,” said Valerie Jarrett, Lyft Board Member and Former Senior Advisor to President Obama. “Yet, the destructive impacts of COVID-19 and other systemic inequities have laid bare the longstanding disadvantages faced by under-resourced Black communities in accessing these necessities.”

According to a blogpost released on Lyft’s website, the company forms alliance with My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, an Obama Foundation initiative, and The National Urban League.

The Alliance formed by these organizations will eliminate transport barriers in Black communities. They will provide access to more than 1.5 million cars, motorbikes and scooter rides to help those in Black communities easily transport to essential services amid the coronavirus pandemic. In addition, all Lyft Community Grants will be redirected towards the organizations involved in this Alliance.

“The LyftUp Access Alliance is critical in supporting these communities by solving problems, not simply overcoming them for the moment. We are grateful for the shared commitment with our partners and excited for the continued work we’ll do as part of the Alliance.”

Other organizations in the alliance include Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the NAACP, the National Action Network, Black Women’s Roundtable, the United Negro College Fund, The US Black Chamber of Commerce, and the National Bail Fund Network.

Before the wave of the coronavirus pandemic hit America, these organizations were already involved with providing support to Black Americans. Their services are mostly aimed towards unemployed black Americans and people of color.

“Collectively, these organizations were already providing services to millions of people per day before the COVID-19 crisis. Today, with millions of Black people without work, and many more holding essential jobs, these organizations are on the front lines of this crisis. From COVID testing and food delivery to mental health and job readiness, the LyftUp Access Alliance will support access to the essential services Black individuals and Black communities need to survive and thrive in the wake of COVID,” Jarrett said.

Sometime in April, Lyft announced that it would be offering free rides to essential locations like grocery stores, pharmacy, and healthcare centers, strictly to members of the National Action Network, National Urban League, NAACP, and Black Women’s Roundtable. The company also granted complimentary rides to members who need transportation to get to their jobs, and frontline workers of the COVID-19 crisis.