Introducing Lyft

Lyft is a leading rideshare company and a well-known name in the world of gig driving. If you are considering the possibility of gig driving in Canada, take a look at Lyft. Here is some essential information to help you explore possibilities.

Lyft began operating in Canada in 2017, and now has a presence in Ontario and Vancouver. Its amazing software program, using the Internet, matches passengers with drivers who use their own private car.

As a driver, you are treated as an “independent contractor” (not an employee). This means you sign a contract with Lyft specifying the terms and mutual commitments of the arrangement. And it means you must provide the car (covering operating expenses) and the technology (smartphone with Internet connection).

If you are in good standing and logged in, Lyft gives you free access to their online platform and matches you with passengers in your area. Using GPS mapping technology, the app guides you to the pickup and drop-off locations. The app also displays your earnings information in real time, and keeps a record of all your trips and statistics.

Being an “independent contractor” also means you are free to drive passengers whenever & wherever you want (in cities where you meet the requirements). This is one of the main reasons gig drivers like driving with Lyft: YOU ARE YOUR OWN BOSS. You can drive as few or as many hours as you choose; and your earnings will be largely a factor of your own efforts. That’s freedom!

Lyft deposits your earnings once a week into your bank account. But you can also cash out your current balance in advance, any time you want. Need $50 in a hurry? Get in the car, drive 3 or 4 passengers, cash out immediately, and the money will be in your account the same day. Nice!

The pandemic hitting Canada in 2020 had significant impact upon driving for Lyft. Initially, there was extreme concern about the spread of the virus between passengers and drivers. The number of passengers dramatically dropped. Many drivers stayed home. For those who courageously continued driving, income was not very good.

To protect drivers and passengers, Lyft introduced new requirements: Passengers (3 maximum) were only allowed to sit in the back seat. No more sharing rides with strangers. Everybody had to wear masks. And drivers were instructed to constantly air out the car and wipe down surfaces with disinfectant. (Currently, these measures are still in place.)

As time went by, when everybody adjusted to the new realities, more passengers & drivers resumed ridesharing. Currently, there are almost as many passengers as before the pandemic.

Let the world recognize that Canadian Lyft drivers are PANDEMIC HEROES, courageously helping frontline workers and essential staff keep moving, and ferrying people to vaccination clinics, in cities & communities all across our great nation.

Once you are confident Lyft may be a good fit for you, then you might as well go ahead and take the next step: SIGN UP! It only takes a few minutes to set up your Lyft Account, providing basic information to establish your driver profile.

Don’t worry – Lyft does not require fees or deposits, and there are no binding obligations or legal traps. At any point along the way, you can pause to get answers to your questions. But if you’re ready to move forward, the sooner you sign up and launch the registration process, the sooner you’ll be out on the road earning money.

(Note: When you click the link to go to Lyft’s sign-up page, the sign-up address will automatically include a Referral Code DOUG36244. This tells Lyft you were referred by Gig Drivers of Canada. We would be grateful if you will use that sign-up page (or enter the Referral Code in the sign-up box), so Gig Drivers can receive recognition and a small referral reward to help cover our expenses. Thank you very much!)