Lyft launches a rider verification pilot program

Lyft is piloting a new rider verification initiative in a handful of cities in an effort to give drivers more peace of mind over who is getting in their cars.

The pilot, which begins rolling out Tuesday, introduces what Lyft says is a “streamlined process” for verifying identities by automatically cross-checking names and phone numbers through third-party databases.

It starts with riders in Detroit, Jacksonville, Houston, Atlanta, Phoenix, Chicago, Denver, Miami, and Seattle.

“The Rider Verification program is a direct response to what our driver community has been asking for—a way to enhance their peace of mind and ensure they can trust who they’re picking up,” Audrey Liu, EVP of rider experience and community safety, said in a statement.

Lyft expects the majority of riders to go through a “seamless” process of being automatically checked and verified through the third-party databases. (Lyft didn’t provide additional details on the third-party databases it’ll be using for this effort.) If a rider’s information can’t be validated, the person may be asked to input their legal name for a recheck. The rider then may be asked to upload a government-issued ID if that doesn’t work, a spokesperson said.

“Rider verification can help drivers confirm that riders are who they say they are, and is an important step in Lyft’s work to help everyone feel more secure and increase accountability within our entire community,” Liu said.

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