Lyft executive says future of mobility innovation makes way for all

Lyft’s vice-president of public policy told a business lunch crowd Tuesday that no city can cover all areas well with public transportation, which is another benefit of ride-sharing companies such as his.

In fact, Joseph Okpaku said, in some cities Lyft has become part of the public transportation system, with public transit apps including ride-sharing. Frequently, they are used as ‘first mile/last mile’ of a commuter’s journey by transit.

Ride-sharing, which involves ordering up a car with a hired driver and sometimes with others sharing the cost of the ride, is also a benefit to those working at night, Okpaku told the diners at the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce event. Public transit can be scary in the dark, he noted, adding that one rider explained it this way: “What’s cute at noon ain’t so cute at midnight.”

In Winnipeg, Lyft and Uber have hit a roadblock to opening up shop. In other cities, drivers are covered by insurance under the ride-sharing company’s policy, effectively turning it on and off in the hours they operate. In Manitoba, he said, Lyft has been told insurance has to be purchased by the operator.

Okpaku said Lyft has calculated the economic benefit in cities where ride-sharing operates at a total $2 billion. People who use ride-sharing options tend to go out more often, stay out longer and spend more. Further, in some cities, ride-sharing has helped reduced drunk driving rates.

He said were ride-sharing available in Winnipeg, Lyft has calculated that $8.8 million more would be spent locally by passengers and the value of time saved due to efficiency gains would equal $6.4 million.

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