Lyft Finally Launches Pet Mode, Five Years After Uber

Lyft has finally introduced a "Pet Mode" feature, allowing passengers to indicate they are travelling with a furry friend and ensuring they are matched with pet-friendly drivers. This comes five years after rival ride-hailing service Uber launched its own pet-friendly option.

The new feature, announced on National Dog Day, will add a £3.30 surcharge (including VAT) to rides where passengers are travelling with a pet. Lyft says this fee goes directly to the driver.

The introduction of Pet Mode comes after a high-profile incident in 2023, where a Lyft driver in Austin, Texas, was accused of driving off with a cat named Tux still in its carrier, ignoring the owner's pleas. The driver claimed not to have the feline, despite the owner's in-app messages.

The incident, which gained widespread attention on social media and in the press, highlighted the need for a clear system to match pet owners with drivers who are comfortable transporting animals. Tux was eventually found safe, but the incident prompted calls for Lyft to introduce a feature similar to Uber's existing Pet Mode.

"The driver told me that if he'd known I had a cat, he wouldn't have picked me up," the owner, Palash Pandey, told The Washington Post. "He said he was allergic to cats and would have cancelled the ride. My drop-off location was a pet hospital, and I was holding a pet carrier, so it's hard to figure that one out."

While the introduction of Pet Mode may be a welcome addition for pet owners, it remains to be seen whether it will be sufficient to prevent similar incidents in the future. It is essential that drivers are clear about their willingness to transport animals, and that passengers are able to identify pet-friendly drivers easily. Lyft's new feature is a step in the right direction, but it is crucial that the company continues to work with drivers and passengers to ensure the safety and comfort of both humans and animals.