27
September
2018
|
13:03 PM
America/Chicago

Lyft Challenges UHD Students to Ditch Their Cars

Ridesharing has already changed the way Americans depend on owning a car and how we get around cities— but now it’s time to take an even bolder step toward creating a new future of mobility. Lyft is announcing Ditch Your Car, a pilot program is offering more than $450 of transportation credit for Houstonians to give up their cars for 30 days in favor of getting around town via Lyft rides, METRO Transit, Houston BCycle, and Zipcar.

University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) students will be able to register at ditchwithlyft.com/houston for the opportunity to receive credit towards Lyft, METRO Transit, Houston BCycle and Zipcar for the time period between Monday, Octo. 8 and Thursday, Nov. 6. Fifty UHD students will be selected by Lyft for the Ditch Your Car initiative.

“The way that people move around cities is changing faster than ever, and we're excited to challenge UHD students to change their everyday habits and give up their car for a month,” said Kaleb Miller, general manager for Lyft Houston. “Lyft alone is not the overall solution to overcome transportation hurdles, but by partnering with METRO, BCycle, and Zipcar, we are able to create a full menu of mobility options for students and residents.”

“UHD is proud to partner with Lyft and help support our students’ commutes throughout the 30-day initiative,” said Samuel Santos, UHD dean of students. “Houston is definitely a driving city, and our students are driven to succeed, often spending hours on the road traveling to and from campus. This initiative not only benefits our community by taking more cars off our freeways, but it also provides an invaluable resource to our students, who depend on transportation to further their education and ultimately Finish UHD Strong.”

“Every day, more and more people ditch their personal cars in Houston and instead use a range of mobility options to get around from car sharing to ride hailing,” said Forrest Neilson, Zipcar regional general manager, Houston. “We’re excited to join Lyft in this fun 30-day challenge that’ll encourage even more Houstonians to go car-free. At Zipcar, we’re big fans of any effort to make it easier to live without a personal car.”

"We're proud to join Lyft in promoting environmentally-friendly travel options for the UHD community," said Henry Morris, Marketing & Communications Manager at Houston BCycle. "As we expand our presence on UHD's campus in the coming months, we look forward to providing UHD students and staff with a fun, healthy, and sustainable way to explore on-campus and off."

Here’s How It Works:

  1. Sign up here at ditchwithlyft.com/Houston. Fifty people will be randomly selected to participate.
  2. Once chosen for the challenge, you’ll receive an email with the details of the program including transportation credits!
  3. Transportation credits include Lyft, METRO, BCycle, and Zipcar to get around the city for one month.
    • $300 Lyft ride credit
    • METRO pass (one month valued at $50)
    • Houston Bcycle membership (one month valued at $9)
    • Zipcar one-month membership + $100 drive credit (valued at $132)
  4. The challenge starts October 8 through November 6

Since day one, we’ve believed cities should be built around people, not cars or parking lots. Using a mix of multimodal options, it’s possible to rework cities and ditch personal cars. Lyft is committed to being a part of the solution to reduce congestion, carbon footprint and the pain points of personal car ownership in Houston.

The University of Houston-Downtown supports faculty, staff and student commuters with initiatives aimed at promoting ridesharing and alternative transportation. UHD was the city’s first University to be serviced by METRO’s light rail. Through UHD’s RideSponsor program, the institution subsidizes 25 percent of METRO’s monthly fare cost for faculty, staff and students. Additional commuter/transportation resources include a designated Lyft pick-up/dropoff zone on campus.

About the University of Houston-Downtown

The University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) is the second-largest university in Houston and has served the educational needs of the nation’s fourth-largest city since 1974. As one of four distinct public universities in the University of Houston System, UHD is a comprehensive, four-year university led by President Loren J. Blanchard. Annually, UHD educates approximately 14,000 students, boasts more than 66,000 alumni, and offers 45 bachelor’s degrees, 12 master’s degrees, and 19 online programs within four colleges: Marilyn Davies College of Business, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Public Service, and College of Sciences and Technology. UHD has one of the lowest tuition rates in Texas.

U.S. News and World Report ranked UHD among the nation’s Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Applied Administration and Best Online Master’s Programs in Criminal Justice, as well as a Top Performer in Social Mobility. The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse ranked UHD one of the best colleges in the U.S. for its 2024 rankings, with notable distinctions: No. 1 for diversity (tied) and No. 3 for student experience. The University is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, a Minority-Serving Institution, and a Military Friendly School. For more information on the University of Houston-Downtown, visit uhd.edu.