Lyft plans discount rides to Atlantic City grocery stores

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Lyft will soon offer discount rides to grocery stores in Atlantic City following a successful pilot program in Washington, D.C. and a launch in Atlanta.

The Grocery Access Program, which offers $2.50 shared Lyft rides, is expanding to Atlantic City and other food deserts around the country to minimize barriers to healthy food through better transportation options.

“Everyone should have access to fresh and healthy foods, and we recognize that grocery shopping comes with many challenges in some neighborhoods,” said Eric Plummer, market manager of Lyft New Jersey in a statement. “Lyft is committed to working toward a future where New Jersey residents can fully overcome the barrier of traveling to food retailers for healthy food options.”

According to Lyft, 35 percent of rides in New Jersey start or end in low-income communities. The U.S. Department of Agriculture lists 134 food deserts in the state, meaning approximately 298,000 residents have limited access to a supermarket or grocery store.

Village Super Market ShopRite is partnering with Lyft on the program, which will locally be called Supermarket Access Program. Village Super Market ShopRite Director of Marketing and Business Development Perry Blatt called the ability to connect local residents in need with access to fresh foods the “ultimate goal.”