Lyft offers free rides to job seekers. Here's how you can participate

Morning Business Outlook: Lyft says it's launching a new 'jobs access program' in more than 35 cities around the country to offer customers free rides to job interviews and the first three weeks of work; new OnePoll survey says half of us need coffee to start our mornings on a positive note.

So you finally landed the big job interview. But how are you going to get there?

Ridesharing service Lyft said it's providing free rides for people trying to get jobs, including rides to and from job training programs and job interviews, and rides to and from work during a person's first three weeks of employment.

That doesn't mean anyone with the Lyft app on their phone can demand a free ride because they claim they're looking for a new job. For its Jobs Access Program, the company has partnered with a number of nonprofit groups that help people find employment. For example, through Lyft's partnership with the United Way and 211, job seekers with specific healthcare, employment or veterans' transportation needs can call 211 to have a free Lyft ride booked on their behalf.

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"United Way believes that people of all ages and abilities should have an opportunity to improve their economic status through employment," said Alicia Lara, senior vice president of impact for the United Way Worldwide. "When we work with corporate partners like Lyft in pursuit of this goal, the entire community benefits and together, we can affect sweeping change that benefits us all."

Lyft said it is positioned to help at-need jobseekers. According to a recent company survey, 35 percent of Lyft users don't own or lease a personal vehicle. And 44 percent of the company’s rides start or end in low-income areas.

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The National Down Syndrome Society is another of Lyft's partners for the program. Ashley Helsing, the group's director of government relations, said there are about 560,000 people with disabilities in the U.S. who are unable to leave home because of transportation barriers.

"The ability to get around easily, especially for employment in the disability community, is crucial to the future," Helsing said.

Here are all the groups that have partnered with Lyft on the Jobs Access Program:

The free rides are part of a $50 million annual commitment Lyft announced when it took its stock public earlier this year. The company said it would provide the money for improving transportation infrastructure, donated transportation and sustainability initiatives.

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Lyft co-founders John Zimmer, front third from left, and Logan Green, front third from right, cheer as they ring a ceremonial opening bell in Los Angeles, Friday, March 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)