Tacoma, WA – Limited free Lyft rides are now available to Tacoma residents in need. By calling United Way of Pierce County’s South Sound 211 program, eligible residents can now get connected to reliable transportation through Lyft for non-emergency healthcare appointments, employment needs and accessing public benefits.
United Way of Pierce County and its 211 program were among a small nationwide group selected by Lyft and United Way Worldwide to participate in the Ride United program.
In Pierce County, the mean travel time to work, according to U.S. Census Bureau Data, is nearly 30 minutes and 12 percent of the population lives below the poverty line. According to Penni Belcher, Director of South Sound 211, “The heart of the issue is access to reliable transportation and what that looks like to different populations. For the past two years, we’ve deployed a transportation navigator to help address structural barriers. This partnership with Lyft will provide a convenient way for our clients to get to critical appointments.”
In the U.S., 45 percent of people don’t have access to public transportation and roughly, 10.5 million people don’t have access to a vehicle. 211 operates in more than 25 local markets* and will be able to schedule Lyft rides for eligible clients without other transportation options.
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