New York City's congestion pricing, set to take effect Sunday, will give credits to riders who pay for the first month, Lyft said.
The New York City program, which aims to reduce traffic in Lower Manhattan and simultaneously raise funding for mass transit, was suspended in June by Gov. Kathy Hochul and then ultimately reduced. It was reopened at a reduced price. Different fees are set for each vehicle depending on the time of day. During the day, it costs $9 to drive a regular car below 60th Street in Manhattan, while ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft cost $1.50 per ride.
Lyft passengers will be charged the same fare as everyone else, but the company said throughout January they will receive a refund as a credit to use on their next week's Lyft or Citi Bike ride.
Lyft also noted that the new fee will apply on top of the existing $2.75 congestion fee for rides that start, end, or pass through 96th Street or lower in Manhattan. That's why the company called the credit “a small gesture to help people adjust to new spending, even as we work to reduce overall ride costs.”