Lyft finally wades into delivery to help drivers earn cash during the pandemic

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Lyft is launching a new delivery service aimed at helping drivers earn money during the novel coronavirus pandemic. As demand for ride-hailing collapses, Lyft’s new pilot program will tap drivers to deliver “essential” items like groceries, medical supplies, and home goods.
For years, Lyft has lagged behind its rival, Uber, in delivery, but with the pandemic leaving many drivers out of work and the demand for delivery rising, the company is finally wading in. The initiative, first teased last month, is called Essential Deliveries, and it will be available in 11 cities — including Atlanta, Dallas, and Seattle — to start out.
The delivery service will look a lot different than customer-facing services like Uber Eats, Door Dash, and…

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