Lyft, Denver RTD launch one-stop transportation app

Furthering its commitment to offering transit solutions that enhance mobility, Lyft announced in Denver that it will begin rolling out Nearby Transit — a feature that shows riders nearby public transit routes and schedules directly within the Lyft app. Lyft riders will now be able to find the closest Regional Transportation District (RTD) bus and rail connections, as well as Lyft Scooters and shared-rides, all within the Lyft app to identify the transportation option that best fits their trip and budget.

According to Lyft’s 2019 Economic Impact Report, 46% of riders nationwide take public transit at least once a week, and 23% of riders in Denver use Lyft to get around where public transit does not operate, such as when their starting point or destination isn’t directly along the transit route, and Lyft can get them to the first or last mile.

RTD is uniquely positioned to lead the dialogue around the Denver metro region’s mobility strategy. The transit agency actively pursues relationships that integrate new mobility services with traditional public transportation.

“Equity is a value that we’re applying to everything we do, including mobility, and first-mile, last-mile gaps often stand in the way of our residents and neighborhoods being able to choose transit as a reliable mobility option," Mayor Michael B. Hancock said. "Nearby Transit is one more tool we can deploy to fill those service gaps and make that easy connection to transit options available for our residents."

With the launch of Nearby Transit, Lyft is taking another step toward being the preferred one-stop transportation app. This multimodal strategy is part of Lyft’s shared goal with RTD of reducing single-occupancy vehicles. According to Lyft’s 2019 Economic Impact Report, 53% of vehicle owners in Colorado reported using their cars less because of Lyft.

Nearby Transit is currently available in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.