A pilot program in the city of Detroit might show the way of the future, combining mass transit with on-demand ride sharing services.
The program, called “Woodward 2 Work,” will offer a $7 Lyft credit to Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) riders who use select bus stops along the 53 Woodward route on weekdays, between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m.
It starts today — May 8 — and is limited to the first 2,000 rides.
Riders who want to get a Lyft through the pilot program must text ”W2W” to 313-456-9328 and they’ll receive a $7 Lyft credit. The credit will only be available on weekdays between 12 a.m. and 5 a.m. and the pick-up or drop-off location must be on Woodward Avenue between Grand Boulevard and Woodland Street and between McNichols Road and Eight Mile.
You must use a debit card, credit card, or prepaid card with a balance greater than $25 to book the trip.
“Fixed route service is always going to be at the core of how we move our residents to jobs, school, and services,” said Mark de la Vergne, Detroit’s Chief of Mobility Innovation. “This pilot project is our first step towards understanding how we can complement fixed route service with private providers to expand the mobility for Detroiters. We are eager to learn from this initial pilot how DDOT can integrate these types of innovation to make it as easy and affordable for residents to get around Detroit.”
Under Mayor Mike Duggan and after bankruptcy, the city has made investments in the bus system. They’ve added six express routes, ten 24-hour routes and, according to the city, more than 100 new buses.