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A newly launched feature from Lyft aims to help older people feel more comfortable using the ride-hailing app.
Lyft Silver debuted Monday in Miami, Tampa Bay and six other markets.
How it works: Users who select Lyft Silver will be matched with cars that are easier to enter and exit.
It also features a more user-friendly interface and allows drivers to share ride details with "trusted contacts," the company said in a press release.
What they're saying: Per Lyft, only about 5.6% of the company's users are older than 65, while 18% of Americans overall are in that age range.
"This discrepancy suggests there's a disconnect — and why Lyft is building a new product designed to simplify rideshare" for older riders, the company said.
The big picture: A 2020 study by researchers with the CDC and the University of Chicago found that ride-hail apps could benefit older people, especially those facing cognitive decline that makes driving less safe.
"Ride share services may offer a promising alternative to driving for older adults and may help to address negative health consequences associated with driving cessation," researchers wrote.
