Lyft says it is 'optimistic' about Andrew Cuomo's solution to the L train shutdown after the ride-sharing service ran an ad campaign targeting stranded subway riders

Kate Taylor

Jan 4, 2019, 01:58 IST

Lyft says it is 'optimistic' about Andrew Cuomo's solution to the L train shutdown after the ride-sharing service ran an ad campaign targeting stranded subway riders

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

A Lyft customer gets into a car in San Francisco, California.

Ride-sharing service Lyft launched an ad campaign in December focused on New Yorkers seeking alternative transportation during the planned 15-month shutdown of the L train.
On Thursday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that the subway line - used by roughly 250,000 commuters - would not be shutting down beginning in April as planned.
"We understand the acute pain the L train closure would have caused New Yorkers and are optimistic about Gov. Cuomo's plan to avoid a full shutdown," a Lyft representative told Business Insider.

Lyft is transitioning from looking to provide rides to stranded subway riders to supporting New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's plan to prevent the L train from shutting down.

On Thursday, Cuomo announced that the crowded subway line connecting Brooklyn and Manhattan would not shut down for 15 months as previously planned.

"The simple fact is you have roughly 250,000 people who would need another way to get to work, have a tremendous impact on traffic," Cuomo said at the press conference. "15 months sounds like a really short period of time, but it's not if you're doing it one day at a time trying to get to work."

However, since 2016, these 250,000 commuters have been preparing for just that. And, a number of companies and organizations have been eager to help them find alternatives.

Lyft

Lyft's website intended to provide New Yorkers with alternatives to the L train.

One such company was the ride-sharing startup Lyft. In December, Lyft launched an ad campaign focused on the L train shutdown, including a website intended to help New Yorkers deal with the popular line's absence.

"With the L train disruption, we want to make sure you always have an affordable, convenient, and reliable way to get where you're going," the website reads, highlighting fixed pickup spots, a Williamsburg Bridge carpool lane, and a $299 all-access pass.

Now, these efforts by Lyft seem to be pointless. However, in a statement to Business Insider, the company did not express any ill will towards Cuomo for the last-minute change of plans.

"We understand the acute pain the L train closure would have caused New Yorkers and are optimistic about Gov. Cuomo's plan to avoid a full shutdown," a Lyft representative said in a statement. "We will continue to work with local, city and state leaders as their plans develop to ensure all riders are able to get where they need to while the necessary repairs are made."