This weekend there is another transportation option for Miami dwellers and visitors, and just in time for the holiday! Lyft is launching in Miami, which is a ride-sharing service already popular in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, Boston, and Washington, D.C. The service offers a creative and cheaper alternative to taxis. The company recruits drivers who use their own car to provide rides to individuals who request a lift through an app. Don’t worry though, the company conducts a DMV and criminal background check on every driver, so you won’t (or at least shouldn’t) end up riding with some deranged speed racer.
We used Lyft a lot when we were in San Francisco, where 
the company actually got started. It’s a super convenient way to get around a somewhat spread out city like Miami without having to stand on a street corner hoping a taxi will appear or pay outrageous fees if you travel more than a few miles. Instead, with Lyft, you can set up your ride through an app on your phone. Then, once a driver is located nearby and assigned, which in our experience was always quite quick, you get a picture of the driver and the car, as well as updates regarding the driver’s whereabouts. In case you’re wondering how you’re supposed to know which car it is, the drivers put stuffed pink mustaches on their front bumper. After the lift to your destination, you pay a suggested donation, significantly less than most taxi rides, and then you can immediately rate the driver on the app.
This is a great service that most people in other cities are already utilizing, so we’re excited to see it starting up in Miami. It should be particularly helpful, not to mention inexpensive, for anyone living in a Brickell or South Beach condo to travel back and forth safely after late night revelries. In addition, it will provide tourists with a fun and more affordable way to move about the city. A seven mile taxi ride in Miami Beach can easily end up costing $25, but with Lyft you’re likely to pay about $15 for the same ride.