Alexander Alusheff

Lansing State Journal

LANSING – Mobile ride-hailing service Lyft launched in Lansing today.

Lyft, like Uber, is a taxi alternative that allows people to use a mobile application to hail local drivers who are contracted by the company and who use their own cars to shuttle passengers. The driver finds your location via your phone’s GPS and takes you to your destination address input through the app. Lyft takes payment through the mobile app via PayPal or credit card.

"A lot of people in the Lansing area have been voicing that they want more safe riding options like Lyft," said Mary Caroline Pruitt, Lyft spokeswoman. "Lyft is really people focused. Our vision is to reconnect people and the community through better transportation."

Uber, Lyft’s main competitor, has been available in the region since 2014.

Lyft’s coverage area in the region spans west to Grand Ledge and Potterville, south to Dimondale and Mason, east to Meridian Township and north to DeWitt. Pruitt could not say how many drivers there were in Lansing, but across the country, there are 315,000.

"There are people who are entrepreneurs, artists and musicians who are 'Lyfting' in their spare time," Pruitt said.

All are subject to criminal background checks, driving record checks and vehicle inspections, she said.

To celebrate its launch, Lyft is offering $5 off customers' first rides when they use the code “LYFTINLAN” on the app. Lyft offers a ride estimate calculator on its website. The roughly five-mile trip from the Capitol to Spartan stadium cost $9.

Lyft was started in 2012 by Logan Green and John Zimmer. It is now available in more than 200 cities in the U.S. In Michigan, it is available in Ann Arbor, Detroit, Farmington Hills, Grand Haven, Grand Rapids, Troy and Warren, according to its website.

Alexander Alusheff is a reporter for the Lansing State Journal. Contact him at (517) 388-5973 or aalusheff@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexalusheff.