成人X站

MYNORTHWEST OPINION

Lyft study shows Seattle drivers may be changing their habits

Jan 29, 2018, 5:44 AM | Updated: 9:07 am

Lyft, seattle taxis...

Lyft co-founder John Zimmer displays his company's "glowstache" following a launch event in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Noah Berger, File)

(AP Photo/Noah Berger, File)

Rideshare company Lyft is celebrating after a year of record numbers showing that its customers across America contributed billions in additional revenue to local economies.

Seattle is no exception when it comes to that spending, but the reported numbers also indicate that we may be witnessing the beginning of a dramatic change — from private cars to rideshare services.

Uber offered , but not as revealing as Lyft’s data.

RELATED: Experts predict a driverless car future

After providing roughly 375 million rides in 2017, that $2 billion was added to local economies through the availability of its service — that number was $31.5 million. Its drivers earned $3.6 billion last year, much more than the $750 million generated the year before.

that for Seattle:

  • 72 percent of passengers go out more or stay out longer because Lyft is available ()
  • 53 percent of passengers use their car less because of Lyft (56 percent in 2016)
  • 34 percent of passengers say owning a personal vehicle is less important to them now (34 percent in 2016)
  • 27 percent of passengers use Lyft to connect with public transit (22 percent in 2016)
  • 46 percent use Lyft when public transit is not up and running

Lyft’s data includes surveying 30,000 passengers and 37,000 drivers in 52 major cities.

Is Seattle moving away from private cars?

Anybody driving on I-5 or parking in Seattle is aware that people are not ditching their cars in droves. But there does seem to be some interest in giving up the option of using a personal car.

Fifty-three percent of passengers using their cars less is a considerable number. The 34 percent of passengers saying they don’t care so much about owning a car anymore is a smaller figure, but still noteworthy.

This is in line with predictions put forth by technology disruption expert Tony Seba who says a dramatic shift from private car ownership to rideshare services is just over the horizon. He argues that rideshares are far cheaper than buying a car, insuring it, and paying to maintain it, etc.

Bob Lutz, former General Motors vice chairman, is giving similar warnings saying America is witnessing the end of an automobile era. He says that within 20 years, most people won’t be traveling in privately-owned cars.

鈥淭hese modules are not going to be branded Ford, or Chevrolet, or Toyota. They are going to be branded, Uber, Lyft, or Maven,鈥 Lutz told 成人X站 Radio in November.

Governments just have to regulate them first, and also plan for the driverless car revolution. The Washington State Transportation Commission has already started talking about a future I-5 reserved only for this driverless car economy.

The other side of the rideshare coin is car sharing services like Car2Go or Reach. In 2016, the Seattle Department of Transportation reported that about 9,000 drivers opted to give up their personal vehicles in favor of the service.

More data from Lyft

  • 40 percent of passengers say they spend more at local businesses (47 percent in 2016)
  • 54 percent of passengers say they explore more areas of Seattle (62 percent in 2016)
  • 58 percent of passengers use Lyft to go to the airport
  • 42 percent of passengers use Lyft to go to work (39 percent in 2016)
  • 19 percent of passengers use Lyft to go to the grocery store
  • 26 percent use Lyft for errands (30 percent used Lyft for grocery and errands in 2016)
  • 76 percent of passengers use Lyft to visit restaurants and entertainment venues
  • 30 percent of rides start in low-income areas
  • 88 percent of drivers work for Lyft less than 20 hours a week
  • 73 percent of Lyft drivers are the primary earners for their household

MyNorthwest Opinion

childcare snohomish county...

Nate Nehring and Jared Mead, Special Contributors to MyNorthwest

Snohomish County Council members: Here’s how we’re tackling Washington’s childcare crisis

The Snohomish County Council is tackling the state's childcare crisis head-on. Councilmembers Nate Nehring and Jared Mead explain their bipartisan efforts.

1 month ago

INRIX leaving Kirkland...

Kurt Triplett, SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR TO MYNORTHWEST

City of Kirkland: 8 facts everyone needs to know about our permanent supportive housing project

The city of Kirkland wishes to provide insights into its permanent supportive housing project for the homeless at the old La Quinta Inn.

2 months ago

At the Whatcom Humane in Bellingham, the puppy rush came early...

Brandon Thompson, 成人X站 7 News

56 puppies overwhelm Whatcom Humane in Bellingham

Animal shelters prepare for puppy season as Whatcom Humane welcomes 56 new arrivals, highlighting the need for community support.

2 months ago

employer shuttles bill...

Matt Markovich

Bill to open bus only lanes to employer shuttles sparks debate in Olympia

A proposed bill in Olympia aims to let employer shuttles use transit lanes, igniting discussion among business and transit leaders.

2 months ago

satellites, night sky...

Bill Kaczaraba

Opinion: With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world

American author Max Ehrmann wrote a poem in 1921. It was distributed in a Christmas card in 1933,

1 year ago

Gingerbread House...

MyNorthwest Staff

成人X站 Newsradio wins Bonneville Gingerbread House competition

In a tradition unlike any other, the second annual Bonneville Seattle Gingerbread House competition was fierce between multiple departments.

1 year ago

Lyft study shows Seattle drivers may be changing their habits