In honor of National Dog Day, Lyft is finally introducing Pet Rides, a function that its rival Uber has been providing on its platform for years and has received a lot of requests.
With Pet Rides, riders with furry friends will specifically be matched with comfortable drivers, with an additional fee of $4 plus tax. Riders will see that additional charge when booking a ride, and similar to how a tip works, the $4 surcharge will be fully received by the driver without any deductions from Lyft.
To book a Pet Ride, you’ll need to pick that option from the ride list, and the app will match you to a driver. Your pet must be inside a carrier, on a blanket, or at your feet. As a courtesy to other customers, it’s best not to have your pet on the seat.
Pet rides are limited to the US for now. They allow a maximum of four people and one animal in the car.
I would definitely be extra cautious when taking a pet along in a ride-sharing situation, especially in light of the Tux the Cat incident from a year ago, If you aren't a Lyft driver, fled with a rider's cat in tow. The rider repeatedly hit the car window and sent in-app messages, but his cries went unanswered. When the incident became viral on social media and media started to cover it, Lyft's PR at last took notice. Tux was eventually located around one mile from the drop-off location.
The driver stated that he is allergic to cats and that if he had known he would have to travel with one, he would not have accepted the ride. For this reason, it's crucial to have a distinct tier for Pet Rides that only accepts drivers who are willing.