UGA Ride Smart, in partnership with Lyft, offers discounted rides to students through a nightly rideshare program.
Program Details
- 50% discount on qualifying Lyft Standard or Lyft XL rides.
- discount up to $7.50 per ride*
- Available 7 days a week from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
- Applicable on up to 4 rides per month.
- Valid on Standard and XL Lyft rides.
- To receive the discount, only the student ordering the Lyft has to be enrolled in the program. Additional passengers are welcome.
- Lyft Standard allows for up to 3 riders and Lyft XL allows for up to 5 riders. Students are encouraged to make the most of their rides by traveling in groups whenever possible.
- Rides must begin or end within the service area.
*Prices may be impacted by distance, traffic, time of day, special events, and prime time surcharges.
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How to Sign-Up
Each semester, students currently registered for classes will receive an invitation through their UGA email from Lyft to join UGA Ride Smart. You will need to sign up for UGA Ride Smart using the link in that invitation email.
Download the Lyft app and create an account before signing up for the UGA Ride Smart program. If you already have an existing Lyft account, go to your account profile and link it to your UGA email to qualify for discounted rides.
Once you join, the Lyft discount will be applied to your eligible rides.
If you did not receive an invitation email, please check your spam or junk mail folders for the invitation from Lyft. You can also request a new invitation link by filling out this form. Please contact TPS Customer Relations with any additional questions.
Service Area
Rides are offered to or from any destination throughout the greater Athens-Clarke County community as long as the transportation originates or ends within the main UGA Athens Campus, Health Sciences Campus, Veterinary Complex, or one block north of the Arch in downtown Athens.
Riding Smart with Lyft
- Verify your ride by making sure the license plate number, driver information, and car make and model match what you see in the app.
- Share your location and route with a friend or loved one from within the Lyft app so they can follow your ride in real-time.
- Follow the Lyft vehicle on GPS via the app.
- Ask the driver to say who they are picking up.
Learn more about how to ride smart with Lyft.
App Safety Tools
Access 911
For emergency assistance, riders can reach 911 directly from the Lyft app. It will prominently display your current location and vehicle information, including the license plate. This makes it easy for you to inform dispatchers if needed.
Contact a Security Professional
Emergency Help, supported by ADT, is available for all Lyft riders nationwide. With Emergency Help, if a rider ever feels uncomfortable or unsafe, they are able to immediately connect with an ADT security professional silently or by voice for real-time help 24/7.
You can choose how you want ADT to communicate with you from the app:
- Text
- Call
- Alert 911 silently on your behalf
If you choose for ADT to alert 911 on your behalf, authorities can arrive at the user’s live location, equipped with ride details like the vehicle’s make and model, license plate number, and the intended drop-off location.
Predicting When Help Is Needed
Smart Trip Check-In: If a ride looks to have unexplained delays, riders will hear from Lyft asking if they need support from their team — and if necessary, request emergency assistance.
Read more about Lyft’s safety standards and support on their website.
