As the fall semester wraps up at the University of Georgia, students have the opportunity to test a new rideshare program. The UGA Ride Smart partnership with Lyft tried a pilot program during finals. Student Government Association Chief of Staff Joseph Benken explains how it works.
“The Lyft ride share company is going to be giving discounts as part of this and students are going to be able to register through their UGA emails,” according to Benken.
Students can use the discount four times a month for each semester, from 10 pm to 6 am. Benken says according to Lyft, the average ride in Athens costs around seven dollars, so that discount should make a difference.
“This is going to greatly help and reduce that cost to anywhere between three and four dollars a ride.”
He says the $8.5 million investment will heighten campus security.
“This rideshare program is really going to be a great incentive to encourage students to use Lyft and use a rideshare program instead of maybe walking or getting home in maybe a less safe way.”
Benken says Ride Smart only enhances other already established transportation modes.
“Not only are we maintaining all of the current infrastructure for the late-night busses, but we also have the Designated Dawgs Program. That is a free transportation service that a student volunteer group actually helps to initiate as well.
The Ride Share officially kicks off in January 2022.
