If you've already been driving for Lyft, you probably know that riders can call and text you. However, if needed, you can also initiate the conversation by contacting them before they contact you.
Steps
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1Accept a trip request on Lyft (if you haven't done so already). Use the "Accept" button at the bottom of the screen once the phone displays a pickup location on their ride request map.
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2Pull over to the side of the road when you feel the need to contact the passenger.Advertisement
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3Avoid asking where they're going - per Lyft's policy. Due to policy restraints, you can't ask the passenger their final destination. Lyft doesn't want their drivers to discriminate based on the length of the trip, so you aren't allowed to ask the rider where they're headed. You may, however, ask for details about the pickup location, such as the location's name or surrounding landmarks.
- If the trip will take 45 minutes or longer, Lyft will tell you that you are on a Long Trip, and will denote this fact in the ride request (with "Long Trip (45+"). However, it still won't give the exact destination details.
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4Tap the downward triangle/arrow button in the top right corner of the screen.
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5Tap the "Contact (Passenger name)" choice. This should be the top-most choice on the menu.
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6Tap one of the several choices Lyft gives you. This starts the Driver-initiated in-app texting. Your choices are "I'm your driver, (Driver name)", "Hi, where are you?", "Be there in (time, minutes) min(s)", "Stuck in traffic", "Can't take a call now, sorry", "I'm in a (color) (car brand) (car model)" or "Gate code, please?".
- If you'd rather call the passenger instead, there's a purple icon at the bottom to call the rider. However, you may have to tap a button to send the filtered number to your phone's Phone/Call app.
- If after you tap an option you want to send a different one, the other choices will appear at the bottom of the left-draggable menu.
- If you'd like to send a custom message, you will have to wait until the customer returns your message, at which point the text box will appear. Sometimes, however, the initial Contact button will be about half the size and exist at the bottom of the screen, and should include the custom text-box option right at the get-go.
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7Listen for any message on the phone. You may hear a reminder that you are talking to the Lyft passenger; wait for that to finish before starting your dialogue.
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8Hang up when both parties have finished speaking, or close the box and return to the Lyft Driver process using the < or "x" button.Advertisement
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Tips
- Once you arrive and have marked yourself as arrived ("Tap to arrive"), you'll be given a large "Contact (rider name)". If they're a no-show, you'll need to initiate a contact with the rider to cancel the ride.Thanks
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