Waterside Partnership with Lyft is a Boost to Rideshare Users

Rideshare and ride-hailing companies have taken over from taxis in many cities. They provide a cheaper and easier way of getting home after a night out. The news that the company behind the Waterside District recently set up a partnership with Lyft means even more people are likely to be using the app in Norfolk.

However, few people who use rideshare companies are aware of all of the safety implications. In recent years, drunk rideshare drivers caused accidents and drivers were charged with sexual assault. Fortunately, these cases are rare. Rideshare drivers are as likely as any other drivers to crash, potentially more so after long hours on the road. It’s a small risk to take compared with getting behind the wheel after drinking alcohol.

WAVY.com recently reported the Cordish Companies that operate the new Waterside District in Norfolk announced a major partnership with Lyft. The rideshare company will be the exclusive partner at all Cordish developments.

Waterside District’s Marketing Director Frank Rose said:

“Right now we have a number of rideshare companies that are able to come into the district and while that won’t change, Lyft is receiving a front of the line privilege as part of our partnership.”

Rose revealed Waterside will have a reserved area for Lyft drivers to drop off and pick up people in front of the main doors. It will even take priority over valet services.

The deal means drivers for other rideshare services like Uber will have to drop passengers further down Waterside Drive. Rose says that’s just the first part of the partnership. Phase two is still in the works.

He raised the prospect of promotional deals and giveaways and as part of the Lyft partnership with Waterside.

The new signs will be up in place for New Year’s Eve. Rose said the partnership offers a safe and easy way for partiers who are seeing in the New Year to get home safely.

People who are consuming alcohol over the holidays or New Year should never risk driving. Police step up their patrols on New Year’s Eve, heightening the chance of a DUI arrest. However, the gravest threat from drinking and driving is that of crashing and injuring yourself or others.

The expansion of Lyft and Uber services provides a cheap alternative to cabs in cities like Norfolk and Virginia Beach.

However, ride-hailing services are involved in crashes like other vehicles. There are few statistics in the number of accidents involving Lyft and Uber cars in Virginia. The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles does not keep these statistics.

Studies from other cities indicate the expansion of ride-hailing services led to more accidents. The New York Post found wrecks involving for-hire vehicles more than tripled in just two years in New York from 534 in July 2014 to 1,672 in June 2016. The spike in crashes coincided with a rise in the number of people using Lyft, Uber, and Juno.

In the past years, passengers injured in ride-hailing car wrecks faced challenges when they tried to sue Lyft and Uber.

Fortunately, the Virginia General Assembly enacted a 2016 law that closed a loophole by requiring $1 million in coverage for ride-hailing service drivers. Insurance companies are now offering rideshare coverage to Uber and Lyft partners which means passengers who are injured may be afforded more protection than in accidents involving drivers with private insurance policies.

If you take an Uber or a Lyft make sure the driver is being careful and is alert. He or she should not be distracted by his smartphone which should be hands-free. Ensure a rideshare driver does not smell of alcohol and is not driving erratically.

Provide help with directions if the driver is experiencing trouble navigating. Apps use GPS services that can be unreliable in parts of Hampton Roads. Make sure the driver is sticking to the route.

Enjoy the holidays and be safe. Never drink and drive. If you have been hurt in a Lyft or Uber wreck or another kind of accident in Hampton Roads, call Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers today at (757) 219-2259 for a free consultation.