Episode 21- Lyft

In this episode of From Idea to Done, we discuss Lyft and their plans to eliminate the need for private vehicles by 2025. We chat about their current attempts at integrating with public transport systems.

J/E: Hey Everyone, I'm Josh and I'm Erick

E: Today’s idea is replacing private cars. This week Lyft came up with an update to their app. With this update their president said, “There is only one mobility mode that Lyft truly wishes to defeat. The private automobile. That seem a little ambitious to me.

J: The battle between Lyft and Uber seems like a zero sum game. I don’t know if I fully agree with his statement that by 2025 owning a car will go the way of the DVD. They actually showed that short term usage of vehicles went up with the growth of Uber and Lyft.

E: The article talks about incorporating dockless scooter, bike and car shares, and public transportation with time and cost comparisons on top of their normal taxi services. 

J: I think a big opportunity is the ability to have, in real time, multiple transportation options available to you. It makes me not have to plan as much, but just adapt to current conditions. Unless that adapting is for me to use a scooter. That I will not do. I’m a 38 year old adult for god sakes.

E: I got in trouble when I worked at Toys R Us for bringing carts in by lassoing them with twine while riding electric scooters. We’ll just agree to disagree on scooters. 

J: Thats fair.

E: One of the problems I see with it, is it isn’t all automatically deducted from your account in app. Their main competitor Uber has taken a similar route just incorporating public transportation. 

The big difference with Uber, is you get the ticket in App. Part of today’s super ambitious world is we just don’t have time to do anything. I don’t care what a bus pass costs. I just don’t want to think, push a button, and have a bus pass. Lyft how dare you have me interact with any aspect of public transportation, and buy a ticket myself!

J: Well that's stupid, it is a big cost of integration with those mass transit platforms, but they are leaving a ton of data and money on the table. I think that in NYC or LA they should look at pulling the transit systems into the app and pay through the app. The MAT systems would get increased ridership and Lyft would be better positioned.

E: And according to the article Uber is doing that in test markets already. You have to keep up with your main competitor. They have some pretty big ambitions to get rid of private cars within six years. I don’t think they are going to do it. I am buying a car this month Josh do you think it will be the last car I will buy?

J: No, cars are going to be around for a while, especially here in Fargo, ND. I mean I am going to leave here today, pick up my 3 kids that are all in booster and car seats, how am I going to do that in a ride share. I dunno, maybe I’m just embodying a cranky old man that doesn’t get things.

E: ...basically us. Prove us wrong Lyft. 

J: Thank you for listening to this episode, if you know a startup that could use our random advice and thoughts have them subscribe and leave a review on iTunes.