United Way Worldwide, in partnership with Lyft, launched the Ride United initiative to address unmet transportation needs for individuals and families in communities across the country, by providing free Lyft rides to eligible 211 callers.

 

Eligibility

Rides may be utilized for the following needs:

• Health: medical/dental/eye appointment and testing; substance use support; mental health support/community support; apply for Medicare/Medicaid/CHIP services; return home from ER; Veterans Affairs Services; pharmacy services; inoculation appointments
• Employment: job interview; commute to/from work; pre-employment needs; technology acquisition
• Food: grocery store; prepared/hot meals; food pantry/bank; SNAP/WIC benefits access
• Economic stability: financial coaching/empowerment; tax preparation services; essential supplies (non-food); record obtainment (SSN, birth/death certificate, etc.); transportation services (DMV, car repair, etc.)
• Legal: eviction court; court ordered community service; probation/parole check-in; court ordered education; commute to/from court proceedings/counsel; record expungement
• Housing: accessing and maintaining benefits (vouchers, rental assistance, etc.); emergency shelter; utilities assistance
• Education: enrollment; commute to/from school, class, daycare; guardian school engagement; library or internet access; technology acquisition

Clients:

• Must be 18 years or older (unless accompanied by a parent/guardian)
• Must comply with Lyft’s Health Safety Requirements
• Must be able to get into and out of a car, on their own, and without assistance
• Are able to use a maximum of six (6) rides (each trip counts as one ride, so a round-trip would be two rides)

Rides must be a reasonable distance (the average cost of a ride is $18.50, or approximately 8-10 miles). Any one-way ride over $20 requires a reason there is not a closer alternative and may be subject to supervisor approval. To get a fare estimate go to: Fare Estimate.

Rides should be used when no other resources are available and to overcome short-term barriers. Rides will be provided as long as funds are available.

 

Lyft Service Area*
Anthem	Florence	Lake Havasu City	Phoenix	Sun City	Yuma
Apache Junction	Fountain Hills	Laveen	Prescott	Surprise
Casa Grande	Gilbert	Maricopa	Safford	Tempe
Cave Creek	Glendale	Mesa	San Tan Valley	Tuba City
Chandler	Goodyear	Oro Valley	Scottsdale	Tucson
Flagstaff	Kingman	Peoria	Show Low	Wickenburg

*Ride dispatching may occur in any major metro area covered by the participating 211 as long as there is adequate Lyft Driver supply. These cities listed have been designated as having adequate Lyft Driver supply.

 

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211 Arizona and Arizona Public Service (APS) have partnered to offer rides to cooling centers, respite centers, and hydration station sites during Arizona’s hot summer months.

 

Transportation through this program is not appropriate if you are experiencing any symptoms of heat-related illness or other medical emergency. Warning signs and symptoms of heat-related illness are available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

If experiencing a medical emergency or any symptoms of heat-related illness, call 911 immediately.

Eligibility

Rides may be provided to:

• Cooling Centers: Indoor, air-conditioned locations that offer hydration.
• Respite Centers: Indoor, air-conditioned locations that offer hydration and allow for uninterrupted rest, sitting, or lying down (depending on each facility) during hours of operation.
• Hydration Station Sites: Locations where individuals can go to receive bottled water and other collected donated items. These can be indoors or outdoors.

Clients:

• Must be in a Lyft Service Area with a Cooling Center, Respite Center, or Hydration Station Site
• Must be 18 years or older (unless accompanied by a parent/guardian)
• Must be able to get into and out of a car, on their own, and without assistance
• Must comply with Lyft’s Health Safety Commitment

Rides should be used when no other resources are available and to overcome short-term barriers. Rides will be provided as long as funds are available.

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Do I need a cellphone to get a ride?

For Ride United †Flexible Rides, you will need a cellphone to receive the ride because you will get an SMS (text) confirming the ride when you book. If you don’t have any access to a mobile phone (or are landline only), we will not be able to send you a flexible ride.

Other types of Ride United rides are available if you have a cellphone without internet access or do not have a cellphone. These rides can be for an immediate need or scheduled for a specific time. You can call 1-800-836-LYFT to request these rides.

For heat relief transportation, you do not need a cellphone to get a ride.

†What is a Flexible Ride?

For Ride United Flexible Rides, agents can send you a link that has all the ride and location information locked in, but you can hail the ride on your own within 24 hours of receiving the link. For a one-way ride, you would receive one link. For a round-trip ride, you would receive two separate links. For more information on Flexible Rides, click here.

Are there wheelchair accessible vehicles?

The platform used to dispatch rides does not have the ability to specify vehicles beyond a sedan or the options listed in the portal. Lyft does not yet have many drivers who have accessible vehicles. However, if you have a foldable wheelchair or other device that can fit in a traditional car (including trunk), we can of course use a ride for you. Similarly, if you have a carrier, car seat, or booster seat for your child that can be used in a traditional car, we can also use a ride for you, though you should bring your own car seat. A driver can decline to give a ride if a proper child seat is not provided by the passenger and is deemed unsafe.

Is it okay for a caregiver to ride along?

Yes. There is no additional cost to have a caregiver or caseworker ride along.

Are service animals allowed in vehicles?

Yes, service animals are allowed to accompany riders.

Please call the 211 Transportation Hotline directly at 1-855-345-6432 or dial 211 and select option 4 for transportation to schedule your ride!

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Through a partnership with DoorDash and United Way Worldwide, Arizona agencies can now send supplies to clients through 211 Arizona. The service is free for both agencies and clients.

 

How It Works:

• Local partners work with 211 Arizona to identify clients who need essential deliveries
• 211 Arizona submits pick-up and drop-off information to DoorDash at agreed upon intervals via a secure online system to schedule deliveries.
• DoorDash driver picks up multiple clients’ packages and makes contact-free deliveries to clients along an efficient route; drivers are paid at a normal rate.

 

Types of Items Eligible for Free Delivery

Clients receive the goods free of charge and do not pay delivery fees. Typical examples of items that can be delivered through this partnership include:

Food boxes/bags	Senior supplies
Pet/service animal food and supplies	Hygiene items/feminine care products
Prepared/hot meals	Mental health kits/items
Emergency preparedness supplies, PPE, and COVID-19 testing supplies	Gift cards for clients to purchase essential items
School supplies (including educational items to support remote learning)	Special Thanksgiving/December Holiday items
Schoolwork/homework packets	Weather appropriate clothing/goods
Baby/infant supplies

 

How to Become a Partner Agency:

1. Attend an Informational Session or review the PowerPoint presentation below. The Last Mile Delivery Presentation contains basic information about the program and constitutes the Informational Session. Once you have thoroughly reviewed the presentation, please email 211Transportation@solari-inc.org with the completed Sign-Up Form linked below and you will be contacted with next steps.

1. 1. • To register for a virtual session, send an email request to 211Transportation@solari-inc.org.
      • If you would like to review the information on your own, you can view the self-directed presentation below.

• • • • Last Mile Delivery Presentation (Informational Session)
      • Last Mile Delivery Sign-Up Form

2. After your agency has been vetted and approved by United Way Worldwide and DoorDash, you are ready to be onboarded!

Upon acknowledgement from the 211 Transportation Department that DoorDash has verified adequate DoorDash driver supply within the radius of your facility, you can sign up for a virtual Onboarding Session or view the self-directed Last Mile Delivery Acceptance and Set-Up Assistance Presentation below.

The Last Mile Delivery Acceptance and Set-Up Assistance Presentation contains further instructions for operationalizing the program and constitutes the Onboarding Session. Once you have thoroughly reviewed the presentation, please email 211Transportation@solari-inc.org with the completed Follow-Up Form linked below and any questions you may have. You will then be contacted with next steps.

• To register for a virtual session, send an email request to 211Transportation@solari-inc.org.
• If you would like to review the information on your own, you can view the self-directed presentation below.

• • Last Mile Delivery Acceptance and Set-Up Assistance Presentation (Onboarding Session)
  • Last Mile Delivery Acceptance Follow-Up Form
  • DoorDash Signs
    • DoorDash 8.5×11 – Straight Ahead
    • DoorDash 8.5×11 – Here
    • DoorDash 8.5×11 – Left
    • DoorDash 8.5×11 – Right

 

Please call our 211 Transportation Department at 1-855-345-6432, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, or email us at 211Transportation@solari-inc.org to learn more and sign up!

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