Lyft is getting into the luxury ridesharing game in Baltimore

Lyft rides could be more luxurious in Baltimore.
The ridesharing company announced that Baltimore is among expansion cities for Lyft Premier, which debuted last year. The service, which launches locally on Tuesday, offers connections to rides in high-end sedans or SUVs. It’s a separate option within the existing app.
Typically, the service costs about double that of a normal Lyft ride, a spokeswoman said. (In the debut period, the ridesharing company is offering $10 off the first four rides using the code PREMXBWI.)
The company says the decision to expand follows an in-house survey that showed 60 percent of Lyft passengers wanted to ride in fancy cars. A driver with a cool ride will have the option of providing rides to customers in both categories.
As always, there is a competitive element. When the service rolled out last summer, The Verge reported that it was the first time Lyft entered the luxury space, which Uber has long offered.
Lyft reported a $12.3 million economic impact in Baltimore last year.
The move to expand comes a couple of months after a green light from state regulators that appears to solidify ridesharing’s legitimacy in Maryland. The PSC ruled that the companies do not have to fingerprint drivers.
Plus, Uber’s been having a rough month.