Lyft pledges $700,000 to improve transport in East Oakland

8789 Lyft is donating $700,000 to bring more transportation options and free-rides to under-served residents living in East Oakland, California.

The ride-hailing company is working with the city of Oakland’s mayor Libby Schaaf and non-profit organisation TransForm to establish a free bike library.

The money will be used by TransForm and its partner organisations East Oakland Collective and Scraper Bikes in three initiatives.

Lyft and TransForm will fund the East Oakland Collective, a community group, in piloting the free ride programme. Residents who qualify will have access to subsidised 274 AC Transit passes, free Lyft rides and a $5 per month community pass for the company’s bikes and scooters.

TransForm will convene a network of East Oakland organisations to help guide a design process for the creation of bike-share stations.

Lyft and TransForm will work with Scraper Bikes to establish a free, community-run bike lending library in which a portion of bikes will be available for month-long lending.

Clarrissa Cabansagan, TransForm’s new mobility policy director, says: “We’ve worked with local partners for years to press government and tech mobility companies to serve East Oakland, and it’s finally happening.”