Uber and Lyft will offer free rides to vaccination sites until July 4 as part of new White House partnership, the Biden administration announced on Tuesday.
“By helping Americans get a free ride to a vaccination site, Lyft and Uber are eliminating a potential barrier and driving America closer to the President’s goal of getting 70% of the U.S. adult population with at least one shot by July 4th,” the White House said in a press release.
Both companies had already partnered with other businesses to expand transportation access to vaccination sites, but Tuesday’s announcement builds on those commitments and introduces a formal government partnership.
The White House said the initiative would launch within the next two weeks.
Uber did not immediately provide details of how the the rides would look in its app, but Lyft said a “ride code” will be available through its website or app by May 24. Though the White House advertised the rides as free, Lyft said it would cover $15 of a ride each way. Lyft said in a statement that amount should cover “most, if not all” of the fare based on past rides to vaccination sites it’s observed.
Users will be able to go to Lyft’s website or app to get a code to ride to a nearby vaccination site after giving a few details. The codes can be used for standard rides as well as scooters or bikes offered through Lyft during standard pharmacy hours of 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
“The vaccine is the key to getting us all moving again, and we’re proud to do our part to move the country forward,” Lyft Co-founder and President John Zimmer said in a statement. “We’ve always believed transportation has the power to improve people’s lives, and this initiative makes that truer than ever. Helping more Americans get vaccinated helps the Lyft community of drivers and riders, and we’re grateful to the Biden Administration for prioritizing access.”
“Vaccines are our best hope to beat this pandemic and soon everyone in America will be able to take a free Uber to get their shot,” Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said in a statement. “We are honored to deepen our previous global commitments, and partner with the White House and Lyft to provide free rides to vaccination sites across the US. This is a proud moment for me, for Uber, and for our country.”
