Lyft Ride Smart at Ohio State

Lyft Ride Smart at Ohio State offers eligible students discounted rides, inside the university-designated service area, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Ohio State will contribute $4, per ride, and the remainder will be paid by the rider.

Eligible students will receive an opt-in email from Lyft. Ohio State will contribute $4, per ride, and the remainder will be paid by the rider. Prices may be impacted by distance, traffic, time of day, special events and prime time rates.

Request the "Lyft" option (all other selections will not apply) ride in the designated service area between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. Please make sure you're riding in personal mode and when, in the parameters, a blue banner will appear on the home screen that says, "Lyft Pass applied: $4 off."

You may view the ride parameters by visiting the “Payment” section in the Lyft app. Please note that tips are not required. Any additional tips paid to a driver will be charged to the personal credit card registered to your Lyft account.

Safety is Ohio State’s top priority and the Lyft Ride Smart at Ohio State program is designed to offer discounted rides to be used at the student’s discretion between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. All users should adhere to the following safety tips:

• Follow the Lyft vehicle on GPS via the app.
• Visually confirm vehicle info/descriptions matches information in the Lyft app (license plate, model, etc.).
• Matching the color: Most Lyft drivers have a dashboard display that acts as a beacon, changing color to match the rider's app and help identify their Lyft more easily.
• Ask the driver to say who they are picking up.
• If you feel unsafe, leave the area and contact law enforcement.

Lyft offers additional safety information online.

Eligible Ohio State students can access Lyft Ride Smart at Ohio State via the Lyft app. Download the Lyft app onto your smart phone. If you already have a Lyft account, go to your account profile and link it to your Ohio State student email to qualify for discounted rides.

Visit ttm.osu.edu/get-started to learn how to claim your Lyft Pass.

Riders can book a ride through a web browser on their computer or smart device (learn how).

Lyft Ride Smart at Ohio State offers discounted rides redeemable inside the university geofenced service area. All rides must start and end inside the designated service area:

• North to Hudson Street
• South to Fifth Avenue, except along High Street where service extends into the Short North to Goodale.
• East to Conrail railroad tracks (past North Fourth Street)
• West to North Star Road
• North boundary west of Olentangy River Road is just north of Ackerman Road

Credits are not transferable. However, an enrolled student can opt-in and book a ride for themself and one other person.

Ohio State does not pay any cancellation fees. See Lyft's cancellation terms.

Find information about Lyft’s ADA access.

Ohio State offers free Campus Area Bus Service (CABS) and students have free access to the COTA bus system. Track CABS in real-time via the Ohio State app. If you have additional questions, please contact ridesmart@osu.edu.

Faculty and staff can use Lyft but are subject to normal pricing.

Fall Semester

• Program discounts for the Fall Semester begins at 3:01 a.m. on August 4, 2023 and ends at 7 a.m. on January 1, 2024. Students must be currently enrolled in the Fall Semester. Access to the program may be revoked at any time, within the sole discretion of the university, for violations of law, the Code of Student Conduct, or other university policies and/or Lyft’s Terms of Service.

Spring Semester

• Program discounts for the Spring Semester begins at 3:01 a.m. on January 1, 2024 and ends at 7 a.m. on May 5, 2024. Students must be currently enrolled in the Spring Semester. Access to the program may be revoked at any time, within the sole discretion of the university, for violations of law, the Code of Student Conduct, or other university policies and/or Lyft’s Terms of Service.

Summer Session

Program discounts for the Summer Session begins May 1, 2024 and ends at 7 a.m. on August 4, 2024. Students must be currently enrolled in Summer courses and / or, be an upper classmen enrolled in the Fall Semester. Access to the program may be revoked at any time, within the sole discretion of the university, for violations of law, the Code of Student Conduct, or other university policies and/or Lyft’s Terms of Service.

For more information, please contact ridesmart@osu.edu.

All users should follow good computing practices. The Lyft mobile application does not require users to login after the initial account setup unless users expressly click ‘Log out’ under the settings menu. Otherwise, the phone’s security is the only defense against unauthorized access should the phone be lost or stolen. Cybersecurity for You provides additional information about securing mobile devices.

Students should visit ttm.osu.edu/get-started for additional ways to claim your Lyft Pass.

Please e-mail ridesmart@osu.edu if you encounter issues enrolling in the Lyft Ride Smart at Ohio State program or to determine eligibility.