Lyft’s Grocery Access Program expands in DC to include seniors

The Lyft Grocery Access Program is expanding in D.C. today through a new partnership to include seniors.

Lyft launched the program last year in partnership with Martha’s Table, a Washington, D.C.–based nonprofit that provides healthy food, affordable clothing and quality education to D.C. residents, Technical.ly DC previously reported. The ridesharing service is now partnering with the Greater Washington Region American Heart Association (AHA) and DC Greens, a D.C.-based organization working to advance food justice in the nation’s capital, to add 50 senior residents to the program.

Selected seniors will receive 25 shared rides priced at $1.50 to participating grocery stores in Wards 7 and 8 from now through the conclusion of the pilot on June 30.

“DC Greens is thrilled that Lyft and the American Heart Association have been so responsive to this community request,” Lauren Biel, executive director of DC Greens said in a statement. “This program will be a huge benefit to the seniors we enroll – some of whom regularly travel 45 minutes via public transportation to reach the grocery store and struggle to carry their grocery purchases on the way home.”

DC Greens joined the program as an implementing partner, while AHA will fund the addition of the seniors to the program, a press release states. Lyft said it is aiming to reduce the the time, financial burden and transportation barriers for families when it comes to grocery shopping through this program. Since its launch, the ridesharing company said it has cut the average time it takes families to get to a grocery store in half, from 34 minutes to 17 minutes. Current participants are averaging 2.3 rides per week.

“Since day one, we have had a vision that cities should be built around people, not cars; the Lyft Grocery Access Program carries out this vision to support and improve the communities we serve,” Steve Taylor, general manager for Lyft Mid-Atlantic. said in a press release. “With the support of the American Heart Association and DC Greens, we can provide affordable and reliable transportation to another population of residents that lack healthy food options, and help bridge DC’s grocery gap.”