It marks the first smartphone-driven ride-hailing service in Bismarck and Grand Forks, and gives Fargo residents another option besides traditional taxis and Uber, which arrived in Fargo in May 2015.

The three North Dakota cities are among 50 Lyft is adding Thursday, part of an aggressive expansion planned this year to try to cut into Uber's dominance of the ride-hailing market. It's the most markets Lyft has ever added in one day, besting the 40 it added in a single day just last month. It's now available in nearly 300 cities, the company said in a statement.

"At Lyft, we are committed to offering our communities the best possible transportation," Jaime Raczka, Lyft's head of early stage markets and expansion, said in the statement. "That's why we're excited about the explosive growth coming in 2017, allowing even more passengers to experience all that Lyft stands for: a friendly, affordable ride people can rely on."

The service will be available in Fargo starting at noon Thursday. New passengers can use the code LYFTLOVE17 to receive $5 off their first Lyft ride.

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With Lyft, and Uber, you request a ride by using smartphone. Freelance drivers, who can work whenever they want for as long as they want, respond to the request. Payment is made through the app. Both are available for iPhone and Android users.

Unlike Uber, Lyft passengers can schedule a pickup time in advance and add a tip onto their fare.

Some people already driving for Uber say they plan to work for both services. Similar to Uber, drivers must submit insurance and driving records, and pass criminal background and sex offender registry checks.

"We've been looking for that option of making a little bit more than Uber. And it's a little bit more consistent in the pricing," said Dan Haglund, an Uber driver already signed up to driver for Lyft, too.

Terri Trickle, a Moorhead woman whose day job is selling gravestones, drives for Uber mostly for fun, as "a social experiment and a service." She said she only makes about $7 an hour.

Trickle said she's been approved to drive for Lyft.

"I'm not as money-motivated as some people, but I think it will pay better," she said of Lyft.

Trickle figures she'll drive more for Lyft, at least in the short-term

"I will at first, because I think it'll be fun and sexy," she said.