The number of people using the ride-sharing app, Lyft, has declined significantly during the coronavirus pandemic.
At least, that’s the experience of Revere firefighter Tim Cadogan, who works part-time as a Lyft driver.
“Essentially it’s my second job,” said Cadogan, 31, who joined Lyft four years ago. “It ended up being an additional grand a month and now it’s not there. I feel bad for the people who do it full-time because that’s their bread and butter.”
Before the virus, the Saugus resident would put in about 10 hours a week as a Lyft driver. Now, he’s down to about two to six hours a week, because there are not many riders.
Since he used to live in Allston, Cadogan usually starts his loop there before heading to Harvard Square and then to Davis Square. He said he could drive around that 45-minute loop in Boston and not get a single rider.
Other times, he might get two to three people. That lack of activity can get costly, Cadogan said, especially since he drives a pick-up truck that isn’t fuel-efficient.
“(The virus has) certainly made it difficult,” said Cadogan. “There’s just not as many people, not as many rides. The people you do get are super skittish or they’re nurses and doctors, so it’s a weird in-between. It actually got so bad that it’s not really worth it.
“(I’ve) still done it a few times,” he continued. “It’s gotten a little bit better because there’s hospitals nearby. Otherwise, it would be dead in the water.”
His loop mainly consists of nurses and doctors now, and other healthcare professionals who work at nearby hospitals, Cadogan said.
According to Lyft, the company has been in touch with drivers to make sure they’re following the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which covers everyday prevention, when and how to clean their car, and ways to limit contact during a ride.
Lyft recommends that drivers stay home if they’re sick, wear a cloth face covering, open windows during trips to increase ventilation, avoid close contact and refrain from physical greetings, such as handshakes, regularly disinfect surfaces, practice good hygiene, and wash their hands thoroughly after they sneeze or cough.
According to the company, Lyft has dedicated nearly $1.5 million to cleaning supplies and protective equipment. More than 45,000 sanitizing products have been distributed to drivers across the country, with the distribution set to continue, and hundreds of thousands of cloth face coverings have been ordered for drivers.
Since Cadogan responds to COVID-19 calls frequently as a firefighter in Revere, which has been hit hard by the virus, he said he doesn’t feel nervous about potential exposure while driving for Lyft.
However, Cadogan said he can sense how nervous some of his riders have been during the outbreak. Before face masks became mandatory, he found that his riders would sit as far away from him as possible.
Some people would be pressed up against the door and nobody wanted to talk, or even breathe, he said. Now that Lyft drivers and riders are required to wear face coverings, people have been a little more at ease, but riders are still nervous and sitting on the edge of their seats, Cadogan said.
Although he misses the extra income, Cadogan said the social aspect of Lyft is what he misses the most.
“I really enjoy it,” said Cadogan. “You get to meet cool, interesting people. I met one of the Celtics players twice. Usually, it’s super cool people.”
Cadogan said the one-time encounters set up a scenario where “you can basically be whoever you want to be for 8-10 minutes.
“I ain’t there to judge,” said Cadogan. “I usually tell stories. I used to serve in the Marines. Between that and being a firefighter, people get a kick out of it.”
In addition to mandating masks, per Lyft, Cadogan said he’s also cleaning his truck more regularly during the outbreak. He vacuums his truck once a week and uses antibacterial wipes to wipe everything down after a night of driving.
Lyft said it will connect drivers with One Medical’s Essential Workers program, where they will get a 30-day free trial for virtual healthcare at no cost and access to COVID-19 testing. Since March, the company said it has provided funds to drivers diagnosed with the virus or put under individual quarantine by a healthcare provider.
In addition, the company has suspended all shared rides to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and waived minimum ride requirements through its Express Drive Program.
As rides may be reduced, Lyft is finding new ways for its drivers to earn money. The company is working with government agencies, local nonprofits, and healthcare organizations so Lyft drivers can help deliver groceries, COVID-19 tests and other medical supplies to people in need, according to the company.
Although rides are down, Cadogan said the reduction in traffic and the reduced congestion in the area of his loop has been nice. And he’s found that the service has been essential for many healthcare professionals.
“From what a couple of nurses told me, a lot of people are taking Lyft now rather than the T, because they feel it’s a little safer,” said Cadogan.
Uber, a similar ridesharing company, was contacted for this story but did not respond.