March For Our Lives: Lyft's Giving Free Rides For Participants

DETROIT, MI – Thousands of students across the country, including those in Detroit, plan to demonstrate on Saturday as part of a nationwide call for gun control. The problem is, many of them can’t drive to those events. And parking will be a major pain.

But the ride-hailing company Lyft wants to help.

The company says it will offer free rides to attendees of the March For Our Lives events in 50 cities across the country, including Detroit. The company said in a release that Lyft co-founders John Zimmer and Logan Green support the civic engagement the students have inspired.

"We’ve partnered with the March For Our Lives organizers to ensure that our commitment of up to $1.5 million in free rides will have the most impact on their efforts — and yours," they said in a recent blog post.

Thousands of students across America have staged walkouts to urge lawmakers to act on gun control laws following the February mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, that left 17 people dead.

The Lyft co-founders praised the surviving students for using the spotlight to seek positive changes.
“Your bravery and intelligence have provided a renewed and much needed hope for our future," they wrote in a letter to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students. "We are incredibly grateful for the example you are setting."

Other cities where rides will be offered include Detroit, St. Louis, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, New York City and Chicago.

Michigan Takes On March For Our Lives For Gun Control

To claim the free lift, attendees must RSVP to their rally at www.marchforourlives.com/events. On Friday, “ride codes” will be distributed to attendees via that same website. Ride codes will cover the cost of a ride up to $15, the company says. Free rides will only be offered up to $1.5 million.Those who can’t RSVP can claim a ride code at www.lyft.com/MFOL beginning on Saturday morning.

Users can enter that code in the “promos” tab of the Lyft app. Riders under 18 years old must be accompanied by an adult.

"We thank the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School for inspiring us to act," a Lyft spokesperson said.

Click here to see the full list of cities.

Patch reporters Dan Hampton and Ashley Ludwig contributed to this report.
Photo by Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Lyft