In an effort to increase safety amongst its riders and drivers, Lyft has announced that it will require both parties to wear face masks while inside of the rideshare vehicles, effective in a few weeks time.
The updated safety rules were created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and are intended to prevent customers and employees from spreading the virus to one another. The company has also asked that riders and drivers who are sick do not use the service. To make the proper supplies more easily accessible, the company will provide drivers with the appropriate cleaning supplies and face masks so that they can keep their rideshare vehicle as clean as possible in between customers.
In order to ensure that all participants are abiding by the safety rules, Lyft will require them to agree through the app, which explains that the updates have been made by following the instruction of local health regulations and the CDC. The app will also allow users to report violations of the safety rules. If a rider or driver repeatedly ignores the guidelines, they could have their account suspended.
Safety-Focused Rideshare Updates
Lyft Drivers and Passengers Will Be Required to Wear Face Masks
Trend Themes
1. Safety-focused Rideshare Services - The trend towards increased safety measures in rideshare services, such as required use of face masks, create opportunities for disruptive innovations in vehicle sanitization and contactless pickup/drop-off technology.
2. Contactless Rideshare Services - The trend towards contactless rideshare services, such as mobile payments and self-driving cars, create opportunities for disruptive innovations in automated vehicle cleaning and maintenance.
3. Employee and Customer Health Monitoring - The trend towards employee and customer health monitoring, such as temperature checks and health assessments, create opportunities for disruptive innovations in biometric screening and health data tracking technologies.
Industry Implications
1. Rideshare Services - The rideshare industry can benefit from innovative safety measures that prioritize both passenger and driver health, such as contactless payment options and enhanced cleaning technology.
2. Healthcare Industry - The healthcare industry can benefit from technological innovations in employee and customer health monitoring, such as automated temperature scanning and real-time data tracking.
3. Transportation Industry - The transportation industry can benefit from contactless rideshare services, such as self-driving cars and remote vehicle monitoring technology, that prioritize passenger safety and reduce human error.