Ride-share company Lyft is expanding a grocery program it piloted in Washington, D.C., to 15 additional cities to help improve accessibility to grocery stores that sell healthy foods.
The Lyft Grocery Access Program provides low-income families and seniors with discounted, flat-fare rides to the grocery store and back. The program aims to help people living in food deserts, which are low-income areas without easy access to a supermarket or large grocery store with nutritious food options. The USDA defines low access as living more than a mile away from a supermarket in urban areas and more than 10 miles away in rural areas.
Lyft is partnering with community-based nonprofits to bring the program to life as part of its larger City Works initiative, which tackles transportation-related issues that affect well-being.
After a successful pilot in Washington, D.C., Lyft expanded the program to Atlanta and will expand to the following 14 cities in its national launch:
- Atlantic City, N.J.
- Baltimore
- Chicago
- Columbus, Ohio
- Detroit
- Indianapolis
- Los Angeles
- Miami
- Ottawa, Canada
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Portland, Ore.
- Richmond, Va.
- Toronto
Lyft plans to add more cities in late 2019.
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