At Lyft, we believe mobility should open doors, not close them. That's the idea behind our Social Impact work, and it's the animating force behind one of our longest-running programs: Jobs Access. Transportation is one of the most overlooked barriers to getting a job, and for the past seven years, the Lyft Jobs Access program has been working to remove it through rides that get people to opportunities, and increasingly, through the jobs Lyft's own bikeshare operations create. New and renewed partnerships with Ford, Verizon, and Indeed this year have brought our total 2026 commitment to more than $500,000 dedicated to getting job seekers to job interviews, job training, and the first few weeks of work.
"Transportation shouldn't determine whether someone can build a better life," said Jerry Golden, Chief Policy Officer at Lyft. “Together with these partners, we can break down this barrier, enabling job seekers to reset their futures.”
Why this matters
The Jobs Access program exists because the data is clear: nearly 70% of low-wage jobs in major metropolitan areas are located in suburban job centers — industrial parks, distribution hubs, manufacturing corridors — that were built around the assumption that everyone drives. That's a barrier whether you live in a transit-poor urban neighborhood or in one of the many suburbs now home to a growing share of the country's working poor. A missed interview because of a transportation gap can cascade into weeks of lost income.
Since 2021, the program has provided access to more than 135,000 rides to job seekers across 30+ markets in the U.S. and Canada. The commitments this year (from Lyft, Ford, Indeed, Verizon, and our rider community) reflect a growing recognition across industries that transportation access is a workforce issue.
Who’s showing up
This milestone is the result of momentum that's been building throughout 2026.
Earlier this year, we announced a joint $150,000 investment with Ford Motor Company and SkillsUSA, supporting the next generation of skilled trade workers with both funding and ride credits to make sure participants can actually show up to the events and training they need.
“We know that supporting the next generation of skilled workers requires looking at the entire student journey,” said Mary Culler, President, Ford Philanthropy. “By joining forces with SkillsUSA and Lyft, we are providing vital wrap-around support that solves real-world challenges like daily transportation. Our goal is to ensure students have a clear path to complete their training and secure long-term success.”
Verizon, through its Total Wireless brand, is expanding its workforce development program for working students Total Spark to five cities this year, and Lyft is ensuring participants can actually get there. Through the Jobs Access program, we're providing $55,000 in ride credits to hundreds of job seekers attending Total Spark events in Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia, Compton, and Newark, covering rides to and from event locations throughout the summer.
“Empowering working students starts with meeting them where they are — and making sure they can get to where they need to be,” said Emily Bosland, Senior Director, Verizon Responsible Business. “We are proud to partner with Lyft to provide vital transportation to help Total Spark participants show up, stand out, and succeed.”
Indeed is also renewing its partnership with Lyft’s Jobs Access program by providing transportation support for jobseekers through three organizations: Building Promise USA, which supports citizens re-entering the workforce; Goodwill, for job training and placement; and United Way, to strengthen community-based financial stability programs.
“The truth is simple: jobs need people, and people need jobs. That’s why Indeed is honored to renew our partnership with Lyft’s Jobs Access program,” said Donna Bungard, Director of Accessibility at Indeed. “Together, we are investing in organizations that break down barriers and open doors, by connecting talented individuals with opportunities that need their skills.”
In New York City, we're deepening our commitment to workforce access from a few directions at once. We're making a grant this year to the NYC Employment & Training Coalition, supporting advocacy and coordination across the city's workforce development ecosystem. And each year, Lyft provides 1,200 free two-month Citi Bike memberships to participants in the city's Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), helping teens and young adults get to their first jobs across the five boroughs. Lyft has partnered with the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development on this program since 2022, and also hosts SYEP interns on its own Social Impact and Citi Bike teams, giving them early, hands-on exposure to careers in the private sector.
We're also making grants this year to Hire360 in Chicago and The King's Trust Canada in Toronto, renewing our support for youth employment and skills programming in the Greater Toronto Area.
But the coalition extends beyond corporate and governmental partners. Lyft riders are part of this story too.
Lyft and its riders' ongoing commitment, through Round Up & Donate, help provide transportation access for jobseekers via our longstanding Goodwill and United Way partnerships. These partnerships provided almost $400,000 in free and discounted rides to jobseekers in 2025, and are on track to exceed that total this year.
More than a ride
The $500,000 milestone tells the rides side of the story, and as the SYEP partnership shows, Lyft's bikeshare programs are already part of getting people to opportunity. But bikeshare's role in Jobs Access goes even further. Through Bike Path, a partnership between Citi Bike and Bike New York, formerly incarcerated New Yorkers train and become certified professional bike mechanics. Graduates are hired through Motivate, Lyft's operations partner, to help maintain Citi Bike's fleet of more than 35,000 bikes. In 2025, 58 people graduated from the program, with 98% landing jobs.
It's a reminder that removing barriers to work isn't only about transportation. Sometimes it's about building the job itself.
Get involved
To learn more about the Lyft Jobs Access program, visit www.lyft.com/lyftup/jobs-access.