Residents of suburban developments are sometimes the most likely to find themselves stuck without a ride when they need one. Established San Antonio neighborhoods outside Loop 1604 and across from UTSA next week will get a taste of what ride-sharing services could mean for them.
Limited options and the need to see transportation evolve prompted District 8 City Councilman Ron Nirenberg to invite suburban residents next Wednesday to meet with Lyft representatives and learn more about ride-booking services.
"On the outskirts of our city, there are very limited options in terms of transportation other then getting into your own vehicle."
He said residents in the outer reaches of San Antonio have been asking for Lyft to come to their neighborhoods.
"And we're talking communities both inside 1604 but certainly outside of 1604 where it's harder to get a bus, it's harder to get a vehicle for hire. So these ride-booking services provide new options and more plentiful options."
Nirenberg hopes the meeting will take the mystery out of using the ride-sharing apps.
“You just take out your phone, you log in, it locates you through a GPS satellite and you tell it where you want to go and it sends a car. And you pay through you phone so you never have to take out your wallet. And you get on your way in a safe and quick vehicle.”
Lyft has been authorized to start serving San Antonio again, thanks to the recent ordinance change. Uber has not yet signed a contract. The transportation meeting is Wednesday evening, 5 p.m., September 23 at Hills and Dales Ice House. Nirenberg adds that although the meeting's theme is transportation, it will also be open to discussion about other types of residents concerns.
