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Lyft set to launch in NYC tonight at 7 p.m.

Under a new agreement with the city's Taxi and Limousine Commission, Lyft really is going live tonight at 7 p.m.

Grab a Lyft. (Courtesy photo)

Starting at 7 p.m., you really will be able to open up your Lyft app and call a car, anywhere in the whole city of New York. That said, don’t expect some funky VW Bug to show up. Under a newly-struck deal with city regulators, only vehicles already approved by the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission will be hailed by Lyft’s app at this point.

We’ve asked the company for clarity on how this distinguishes it from Uber, which has always focused on professional drivers. We’ve also asked whether or not a Lyft driver could also be summoned by Uber, or vice versa.

Lyft wants to keep pushing this issue, however. It’s clear they believe that New York City car owners should be allowed to earn money by driving their neighbors around when they have time to do so; however, the TLC already has enforcement agents that confiscate vehicles when they believe they are being used as illegal taxis (and their track record is under question).

From Lyft’s statement:

Community-powered transportation — neighbors driving neighbors in their personal cars — ensures broader access to more affordable rides in places with limited transit options, like the outer boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. We’ll continue to work with the TLC, Department of Financial Services, and the Attorney General’s office to craft new rules for peer-to-peer transportation in New York. We look forward to bringing the most affordable options to the areas that need it most, powered by their local residents.

Companies: Lyft / Uber
Series: Brooklyn
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